Flottors

Flottors, also known as floaters or muscae volitantes, are small specks or cloud-like shapes that drift in the field of vision. They are more noticeable when looking at a bright, uniform background, such as a clear sky or a white wall. These visual phenomena are not external objects but are actually imperfections within the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance that fills the eyeball.

The most common cause of flottors is the presence of tiny clumps or strands within the vitreous. As the eye moves, these clumps cast shadows on the retina, which are then perceived as floating spots. These can be remnants of embryonic tissue or protein aggregates that form over time. Degeneration of the vitreous humor, a natural part of aging, is a primary reason for their increased appearance in older individuals.

While generally harmless and benign, a sudden increase in the number or size of flottors, especially when accompanied by flashes of light or a shadow in the peripheral vision, can be a sign of a more serious condition such as a retinal tear or detachment. In such cases, immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist is crucial. Otherwise, most flottors are simply a normal, albeit sometimes annoying, aspect of vision.