Should I be worried if I'm seeing spots?

Ever had spots, specks or cobweb-like lines float across your field of vision, only to drift away when you shift your eyes to focus on them? Maybe you notice them more when you're looking at a plain background, such as a computer screen, white sheet of paper or a clear sky.

These so-called "floaters" are common. They can also be distracting and downright annoying. But the good news is that they are usually not cause for concern.

Over time, usually starting around 50 years of age, the eye's vitreous humor - a gel that fills up the space between the lens and the retina - shrinks. It can also become thinner.

Floaters are actually small clumps of fiber or protein inside the vitreous humor. When floaters appear, you are seeing the shadows that these clumps cast on your retina.

Other risk factors for floaters

Getting older isn't the only reason why floaters may appear. Some people are at higher risk than others, including those who:

• Have myopia, or are nearsighted and need glasses to see at a distance
• Have had cataract surgery
• Have had an eye injury
• Have had an eye infection or inflammation (swelling)

When to see your doctor

It's true that most floaters aren't anything to worry about. But there are some symptoms you shouldn't ignore because they could signal a more serious problem. It's important to see an ophthalmologist right away if you:

• Experience a sudden or significant increase in floaters or flashes
• See flashes of light in the same eye that has floaters
• Lose peripheral or side vision, or part of your vision appears dark or shaded

An influx of eye floaters can also be a sign of diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. In advanced cases, your retina starts growing new blood vessels that can bleed into the vitreous humor and hinder vision. Blood could be the source of the floater in this case.

When floaters require treatment

If you are experiencing any worrisome new or worsening symptoms, make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. These doctors are specially trained to diagnose and treat disease and conditions that affect the eyes and vision. A dilated eye exam, which widens your pupils, will help determine what is causing your symptoms.

If you have an underlying health issue that is causing your floaters, like diabetic retinopathy, it's important to get treatment right away to prevent scarring. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy may include injectable medicine, laser treatment or surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy also increases the risk for retinal detachment, which can lead to permanent vision loss. Retinal detachment can also occur due to aging or eye injury. Receiving prompt treatment can help preserve vision if the retina tears before it detaches.

When quality of life is affected

No treatment is needed for run-of-the-mill floaters. But what happens if you have really big and bothersome floaters that are otherwise harmless? A Weiss ring, for example, is a large floater that occurs when the vitreous gel shrinks and detaches from your optic nerve. Like the name suggests, a Weiss ring casts a ring-shaped floater.

Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat problems involving the retina and vitreous. An ophthalmologist removes some or all of the vitreous from the middle of the eye and replaces it with saline, a gas bubble or silicone oil.

Laser treatment known as YAG vitreolysis is also approved for floaters. The YAG laser destroys floaters with heat. There is some evidence that YAG vitreolysis may be a safe option but studies have had notable limitations – they have been small and have had short follow-up periods. More research is needed to assess the procedure's long-term risks and outcomes.

If you are concerned about floaters or flashes, make an appointment with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and learn more about treatment options that may be appropriate for you.

Don't neglect your eye health

Having routine eye exams is key for protecting your eye health and preventing vision loss. An ophthalmologist can help determine your risk for serious issues, including retinal detachment. And if you ever develop a problem, you'll already have a relationship with an eye specialist who can help treat or manage your condition.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that adults younger than 40 years old with no signs of risk factors for eye disease get a comprehensive exam every 5 to 10 years. Those between 41 and 54 years old should have an exam every 2 to 4 years, and people between 55 and 64 years old should have one every 1 to 3 years. By the age of 65, adults should get a comprehensive eye exam once per year or every other year.

Those at higher risk for glaucoma and other eye diseases, such as African Americans and Hispanics, may need more frequent screenings. Those younger than 40 years old may need to have an exam every 2 to 4 years, and continue to be screened every 1 to 3 years until the age of 54 and every 1 to 2 years until age 64 - even if they don't have any symptoms.

If you have risk factors for conditions that can affect your eyes or your vision, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you may also need to have your eyes examined more often. For example, people with type 1 diabetes should be examined by an ophthalmologist five years after they're diagnosed and have a repeat exam at least every year. Those with type 2 diabetes should have their eyes examined at least once per year after being diagnosed.

This article originally appeared on Sharecare.com