At Retina Associates in Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Cameron Javid and his colleagues treat a wide variety of conditions related to the vitreous gel and retinal structures. Retina Associates frequently welcomes patients with flashes and floaters.

1. Retina Associates

2.  At Retina Associates in Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Cameron Javid and his
colleagues treat a wide variety of conditions related to the vitreous
gel and retinal structures. Retina Associates frequently welcomes
patients with flashes and floaters.
Occasionally unnerving yet typically benign, flashes and floaters are
visible manifestations of activity in the vitreous humor. This clear gel,
which resembles an uncooked egg yolk, fills the majority of the eye
and allows visual signals to travel to the optic nerve.
As a person ages, the vitreous humor begins to shrink. This process
often leads to the development of string-like structures, which float in
front of the retina and cause a shadow as light passes around them.
These shadows can look to the patient like they are floating in front
of the face.

3.  Shrinking of the vitreous humor may also cause the gel to
exert force on the retina. As the gel pulls on, bumps against,
or rubs on the retina itself, the patient experiences what look
like streaks of light. This is the same phenomenon that may
occur when a person bumps his or her head, and it may
continue for up to several months.
While neither flashes nor floaters typically cause any harm
other than annoyance to the patient, they may signal a serious
retinal condition, particularly in patients with a recent onset of
floaters, which can be a hallmark of the vitreous humor
detaching from the retina. Vitreous humor detachment may
ultimately lead to a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which
does not cause pain but can result in permanent loss of vision.