When to see a doctor about eye floaters

Being able to unfocus your eyes is perhaps something most people would assume everyone has the ability to do. However, according to Healthline, this isn't actually the case.

When a person unfocuses their eyes, they do so by relaxing the ciliary muscles in their eyes, which in turn causes them to lose focus. In general, people tend to unfocus their eyes when looking at an object from a close range, when looking at hidden images — such as Magic Eye Images — and when admiring 3D imagery or artworks. A lot of people first learn the ability to unfocus their eyes during their childhood, while others simply pick up the skill while daydreaming or staring into space. 

For those who can't, not being able to unfocus your eyes might not seem like a big deal. However, the lack of ability to do so could be a sign of a much more serious problem. 

According to research carried out by Brown University, not being able to unfocus your eyes could be a sign of esotropia — a condition otherwise known as "lazy eye" — which is when a person's eye appears to turn inward toward the nose.

As The American Association for Pediatric Opthamology and Strabismus note, those who suffer from esotropia, particularly children, can wind up losing their 3D vision, their vision on the affected eye, or lose the ability for both eyes to work together properly. Although this condition is generally diagnosed in childhood, the American Academy of Ophthalmology state that people can also lose the ability to unfocus their eyes later in life, most commonly among people who suffer from presbyopia, which is when a person's eyesight gradually begins to deteriorate and they might require reading glasses. 

Not being able to unfocus your eyes is a clear sign that your ciliary muscles aren't working properly, no matter your age. If you notice any changes to your vision, it's always advised that you should book an appointment with an eye doctor.

It's happened to many of as at one time or another and for one reason or another: we are going about our day, working or running errands or playing with the kids, when suddenly, out of the corner of our eye, we see strangle little "floaters" that look like dark specs or transparent shapes floating in the periphery of our vision. It can be distracting and unsettling, and when we start worrying it's a sign of a major problem, it can become anxiety inducing too. But these floaters aren't always cause for alarm or panic.

According to the Mayo Clinic, most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes to our eyes. Specifically, the jelly-like substance inside our eyes, called vitreous, becomes more liquid as we get older. When this happens, microscopic fibers within the vitreous can clump up and cast small shadows on our retina. What we're seeing when we're seeing floaters are in fact these shadows. Floaters, therefore, can be an annoying but normal part of our eyes' aging process. However, there are absolutely some instances where floaters mean you should seek a doctor's opinion immediately. 

The Mayo Clinic says that while floaters are common and normal as we age, if you notice a sudden or significant increase in floaters, or if you see flashes of light or lose your peripheral vision, you should contact an eye doctor right away. This is because large black spots, streaks or flashes of light, or a sudden and severe increase in floaters can be a sign of a potentially blinding condition known as retinal tearing or retinal detachment. This can happen when, as the vitreous shrinks, it pulls on the retina at the back of the eye and causes the retina to either tear or come completely away from the vitreous humour (via visioneyeinstitute.com). This is very serious and could result in blindness if not treated urgently, so if you notice any of these symptoms, call your eye doctor right away.

If, however, you are simply experiencing those annoying occasional floaters, you are in good company; the majority of us will experience them at some point, especially after the age of 40. So while mentioning them at your regular eye exam is probably a good idea, you likely don't need to rush in for help unless you experience the above symptoms of retinal detachment.