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Flashes & Floaters at Macha Eye Care in Central Indiana

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Understanding Flashes & Floaters

Flashes and floaters are small spots and flashes of light that appear in your field of vision. Typically, they are harmless and shouldn’t cause significant distraction or distress.

However, a sudden onset of flashes and floaters that persists may be an eye emergency. Contact us right away for an urgent appointment or go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.

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What are Flashes & Floaters?

The inside lining of the back of the eye is called the retina. When light hits the retina, it sends an impulse through the optic nerve to the brain, where the light is then translated into an image. This occurs when you rub your eyes and see a flicker or sparkle or light.

The gel-like substance in the eye, called the vitreous, is attached to the retina. As we age, the vitreous shrinks and becomes more fibrous, which can cause it to pull or tug on the retina. When the vitreous pulls on the retina, the brain interprets it as a flash of light.

Flashes can also occur due to an injury, sudden stop, or fall. Some refer to this as “seeing stars.”

In the vitreous, small fibers float around the gel-like substance and can appear in your field of view. You may notice specks, clumps, or squiggles crossing your field of vision as if they are suspended in the air. These are called floaters.

Floaters are a regular occurrence and usually increase with age, but they can appear at any point in life. Things like high myopia, trauma, injury, or past surgery can cause floaters to increase, but they are most commonly related to aging. As we get older, the vitreous shrinks, becoming more fibrous and increasing the number of floaters we see.

If you notice a sudden onset of floaters or floaters accompanied by flashes, you should immediately seek medical attention. At Macha Eye Care, we can help if you experience any sudden changes in your vision.

When Are Flashes & Floaters a Concern?

In some cases, you may see a series of flashes in conjunction with a migraine headache. The flashes typically stop within 20 minutes. If they persist, it may be best to consult your doctor.

Flashes can also occur due to strokes or transient ischemic attacks. Please seek immediate attention if you think you may be having a stroke.

When flashes persist, it can indicate an eye emergency. If you see flashes combined with a shower of floaters, you could be experiencing a retinal tear or detachment, which is a serious eye issue. Please visit your emergency room as soon as possible if you’re in the midst of an eye emergency.

3 Locations to Serve You Best

Anderson | 1537

Contact Information

Address

1537 South Scatterfield Road
Anderson, IN 46016

Hours of Operations

Monday
10 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM7 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM7 PM
Friday
9 AM5 PM
Saturday
9 AM12 PM
Sunday
CLOSED

Anderson | 1541

Contact Information

Address

1541 South Scatterfield Road
Anderson, IN 46016

Hours of Operations

Monday
10 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM7 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM7 PM
Friday
9 AM5 PM
Saturday
9 AM12 PM
Sunday
CLOSED

Fountain Square

Contact Information

Our Address

1429 Shelby Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203

Hours

Monday
9 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM7 PM
Wednesday
8 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM6 PM
Friday
9 AM1 PM
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

Contact Information

Address

1537 South Scatterfield Road
Anderson, IN 46016

Hours of Operations

Monday
10 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM7 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM7 PM
Friday
9 AM5 PM
Saturday
9 AM12 PM
Sunday
CLOSED

Contact Information

Address

1541 South Scatterfield Road
Anderson, IN 46016

Hours of Operations

Monday
10 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM7 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM7 PM
Friday
9 AM5 PM
Saturday
9 AM12 PM
Sunday
CLOSED

Contact Information

Our Address

1429 Shelby Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203

Hours

Monday
9 AM5 PM
Tuesday
9 AM7 PM
Wednesday
8 AM5 PM
Thursday
9 AM6 PM
Friday
9 AM1 PM
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

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