The most common reason you might see a spot in your vision is due to eye floaters, which are usually harmless and related to aging. However, it's important to understand the various potential causes to ensure your eye health.
What are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are small specks, spots, or thread-like strands that drift across your field of vision. They appear when tiny clumps of protein or other debris form in the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance that fills the inside of your eye.
Common Causes of Spots in Your Vision:
- Normal Aging (Vitreous Shrinkage): As we age, the vitreous humor can shrink and become more liquid. This process can cause the vitreous to pull away from the retina, creating floaters. These are generally harmless.
- Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD): This occurs when the vitreous separates from the retina. It's a common cause of sudden onset floaters. While often benign, PVD can sometimes lead to retinal tears or detachment.
- Eye Infections or Inflammation: Conditions like uveitis (inflammation inside the eye) can cause floaters and other visual disturbances.
- Bleeding in the Eye (Vitreous Hemorrhage): Bleeding into the vitreous can be caused by injury, diabetes, high blood pressure, or blocked blood vessels.
- Retinal Tears or Detachment: These are serious conditions that require immediate medical attention. They can occur when the shrinking vitreous pulls forcefully on the retina, causing it to tear or detach. Symptoms include a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow in your peripheral vision.
- Migraines: Some types of migraines, particularly ocular migraines, can cause visual disturbances, including seeing spots or flashing lights.
When Should You See a Doctor?
While floaters are often harmless, it's crucial to consult an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) if you experience any of the following:
- Sudden increase in the number of floaters
- Flashes of light
- A shadow or curtain-like obstruction in your peripheral vision
- Eye pain
- Vision loss
These symptoms could indicate a more serious condition, such as a retinal tear or detachment, which requires prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
Diagnostic Tests
An eye doctor can perform a comprehensive eye exam to determine the cause of your floaters and rule out any underlying conditions. This may include:
- Visual acuity test: To measure your sharpness of vision.
- Dilated eye exam: To allow the doctor to see the retina and vitreous more clearly.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A non-invasive imaging test that provides detailed images of the retina.
Summary
Seeing a spot in your vision is often due to harmless eye floaters caused by age-related changes in the eye. However, sudden changes in floaters, flashes of light, or any vision loss require immediate medical attention to rule out more serious conditions such as retinal tears or detachment. Regular eye exams are essential for maintaining eye health.
