Floaters often appear as pieces of lint, dust, or debris that float around and are seen best with an azure blue sky, gray fog bank, or a slightly off-white wall as the background. Flashes can appear as streaks of light, lightening bolts, shooting stars, sparks of light, or an arc of light to the side.
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Flashes and Floaters  Information for adults

Picture of Flashes and Floaters: Floaters often appear as pieces of lint, dust, or debris that float around and are seen best with an azure blue sky, gray fog bank, or a slightly off-white wall as the background. Divider line
Floaters often appear as pieces of lint, dust, or debris that float around and are seen best with an azure blue sky, gray fog bank, or a slightly off-white wall as the background.
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Who's At Risk
Flashes and floaters are very common, most often occurring after the age of 40. Those who are more likely to experience it are those who:

  • Are nearsighted.
  • Have had cataract surgery.
  • Have had a YAG laser surgery of the eye.
  • Have had inflammatory disease inside the eye.
  • Have had previous injury to the eye (such as being hit by a fist, a ball, etc).
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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