Noticeable changes in your vision should always be taken seriously. If a clear field of vision is suddenly littered with spots or various shapes, you should consult your eye doctor immediately.
In some cases, the spots could be harmless and a symptom of age, but there are times when these are symptoms of more dangerous conditions, and you must seek medical treatment as quickly as possible. The difference between harmless and dangerous could be subtle, but you need to be able to distinguish between the two.
Here are common causes of spots and colored spots to help you learn which conditions require immediate treatment.
Eye Floaters: Common Causes of Spots That Move
If you see spots, strands, rings, or cobweb-like structures in your eye, they may be floaters. They are so named because they move around and tend to shift as you try to focus on them.
What Are Eye Floaters and Why Do They Happen?
They are usually age-related, occurring between the ages of 50 and 75. Floaters are caused when the vitreous, the gel-like substance that makes up most of the eye, becomes more liquid, stringy, and clumps together. These strings or clumps float around in the vitreous and cast a small shadow on the retina. They are also more likely to occur if you are nearsighted, diabetic, or have had retinal trauma.
According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), floaters are usually just an annoyance. Although they don’t ever go away completely, they eventually settle at the bottom of the eye below the sightline and become less of a bother.
Get Rid of Eye Floaters
If floaters are only a mild annoyance, there’s usually no treatment needed. However, if they are frequent and distracting, talk to your eye doctor about your options. A retinal specialist performs a surgical treatment called a vitrectomy. This procedure removes the vitreous along with the floaters and replaces it with saline. As with all surgeries, there are potential risks associated with this operation, including retinal detachment, so your doctor may not recommend it. Laser is another option, but it too comes with the risk of damage to the eye.
Retinal detachment
If you notice flashes along with seeing spots, it could be a detached retina, a dangerous condition that requires immediate treatment from an eye doctor.
Retinal detachment symptoms
The NEI (National Eye Institute) says that the number of floaters accompanied by flashes could gradually or suddenly increase. Other symptoms of a detached retina include blurred vision, a shadow covering the field of vision, and a gradual loss of peripheral vision.
Detached retina treatment
Doctors treat this condition with surgery, which may include a vitrectomy. During this procedure, they remove the vitreous and often fill the eye with gas or oil to push the retina against the eye wall. As you heal, the gas dissipates, and your eye produces fluid to replace it.
They can also perform a procedure called pneumatic retinopexy. Other surgical options include indenting the eye’s surface and draining fluid from inside the eye.
In these treatments and others, doctors often use laser or cryopexy to reattach, or “tack,” the retina back into place.
Visual Auras and Migraines: What’s the Connection?
A sensory disturbance that accompanies a migraine, known as an aura, can make it seem like you are seeing colored spots or floaters, but they sometimes precede or occur alongside a migraine; however, auras can also be present without a headache.
Migraine Aura Symptoms
Usually, the visual symptoms of a migraine with aura don’t last long, but you could experience:
- A kaleidoscope-like pattern of colored spots
- Light flashes
- Blind spots
- Other patterns, such as zig-zags
These symptoms could happen in both eyes, which could interfere with certain activities like driving. The American Migraine Foundation also lists disruptions in motor skills and speech as possible symptoms of an ocular migraine.
Only 25 to 30 percent of people with migraines experience auras with their migraines, and less than 20 percent experience the visual disruption of auras with every migraine headache.
Suppose the aura symptoms, which are usually intense and include diminished vision or temporary blindness (lasting up to an hour), only occur in one eye. In that case, you may be experiencing a retinal migraine. Because the cause of this type of migraine is a problem with the retina itself, such as diminished blood flow, it could cause permanent blindness. Certain foods, liquids, medical conditions, tobacco use, altitude, and other lifestyle activities and health issues can increase the chance of developing retinal migraine.
Other Reasons You Might Notice Visual Disturbances
Although it’s uncommon, several things can cause you to see spots:
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Inflammation in the back of the eye can release debris into the vitreous. Inflammatory diseases or infections often trigger this.
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Diabetes, high blood pressure, or damaged blood vessels can cause bleeding inside the eye.
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Some medications injected into the vitreous can create bubbles that affect your vision.
Some eye problems, like floaters or colored spots, are harmless. But they can be hard to tell apart from serious issues that could cause permanent vision loss. If you see something new or feel pain in or around your eyes, call your eye doctor and make an appointment.
Concerned About Spots in Your Vision? Start with an Eye Exam
Southwest Eye Institute does not offer retinal surgery. However, our experienced optometrists and ophthalmologists can perform comprehensive eye exams to evaluate your symptoms. If we detect signs of a serious condition—such as a retinal detachment or another retina-related issue—we will promptly refer you to a trusted retina specialist for advanced care.
If you’ve noticed new floaters, flashes, or any changes in your vision, don’t wait. Schedule an appointment today to protect your sight.