Eye floaters are usually harmless, an annoying but natural byproduct of aging. However, according to MayoClinic.com, some people are more prone to them than others. You could be at risk if you're nearsighted or have had cataract surgery or a prior eye trauma. Or maybe you've simply passed the half-century mark.
Identification
Floaters appear as dark-colored lines or dots that move around in your field of vision. According to the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, they appear most often when you're looking at a light, bright surface such as a white wall. Although they may look like little moving creatures, they're actually pieces of fiber contained in the vitreous, a "jelly-like" substance that helps your eye keep its shape.
Cause
Most floaters are caused by the aging process. MayoClinic.com notes that the vitreous gradually breaks down from a jelly-like substance and starts to shrink. As it does, some of its fibers block the light traveling through your eye. As with any blocked light, a shadow is created---the floaters you see are the shadows of the stringy vitreous fibers within your eye.
Removing Floaters
According to the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health's joint interactive tutorial on eye floaters, you can temporarily get rid of them by moving the vitreous fluid inside your eye. It's not as difficult as it sounds---all you need to do is look up and down or back and forth. The movement will shake up the vitreous liquid, usually pushing the floater out of your field of vision. Most people, they note, simply learn to ignore their floaters.
Eye Exercises
Although the Internet abounds with forums whose users claim eye exercises helped them get rid of floaters, the scientific evidence simply isn't there to back it up. As MedlinePlus notes, "You cannot prevent floaters and flashes." You may also have heard the myth that eye exercises can keep you out of glasses and prevent glaucoma or macular degeneration. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, this isn't true. While the exercises may help some people put off getting glasses, you can get the same benefits by simply taking breaks from staring at the computer. Eye exercise, the health guide states, "will not eliminate the most common maladies" that lead to glasses or contacts and "will do nothing" in terms of preventing more serious conditions like glaucoma.
Warning
Not all floaters are harmless. The University of Illinois reports that, in some cases, they could be a sign of a retinal tear, abnormal blood vessel growth or an eye disease. If you suddenly experience a change in your regular floaters---such as an increase in number or size---see a doctor as soon as you can. Similarly, if you experience clouded or blocked vision along with floaters, it could indicate a detached retina, which requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.
