In Vision What Is a Floater?

Eye floaters are spots in your vision. They may look to you like black or gray specks, strings, or cobwebs that drift about when you move your eyes and appear to dart away when you try to look at them directly.

Is a floater serious?

Although floaters themselves aren't dangerous, in rare cases they can be a symptom of a sight-threatening condition. As the vitreous shrinks, it can tug on the retina at the back of the eye and cause a retinal tear or detachment – where the retina comes away from the vitreous humour.

Should I worry about a floater?

Floaters are usually fine and you shouldn't worry about them excessively. This is particularly true if you've had them a long time, if they're not becoming more prominent or growing in number, and if they don't affect your vision.