Eye Floaters and Flashes Specialists in Sarasota and Bradenton
New floaters or flashes can be alarming, but a prompt exam often brings quick answers and effective options.
Sudden floaters or flashes may simply reflect normal age-related changes, but they can also be an early sign of a retinal tear or detachment. Our retina specialists offer prompt, dilated exams to find the cause and protect your vision when urgent treatment is needed.
For chronic, bothersome floaters, we are one of the few practices in Florida to offer both in-office laser floater treatment and surgical removal. Patients from Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice often notice a meaningful improvement in clarity after care.
At a Glance: Eye Floaters and Flashes
Floaters are small specks, threads, or cobwebs that drift across your vision. Flashes are brief sparks or streaks of light. Both usually come from a normal aging change in the gel that fills the eye.
- Usually harmless: Most floaters and flashes come from a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), when the eye’s gel pulls away from the retina. The symptoms often settle within about three months.
- When to call right away: A sudden shower of new floaters, new flashes of light, or a gray curtain or shadow over part of your vision can mean a retinal tear or detachment. Call (941) 351-1200 right away.
- Why an exam matters: About 1 in 7 people who see an eye doctor for sudden floaters or flashes has a retinal tear. Only a dilated exam can tell, and a tear found early can usually be sealed with laser in the office.
- Treatment for lasting floaters: Most people need no treatment. For floaters that still interfere with daily life after at least six months, we offer in-office laser floater treatment and surgical floater removal (vitrectomy).
Shane Retina evaluates floaters and flashes at two Sarasota offices and in Venice, for patients from Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, North Port, Englewood, and nearby communities.
Medically reviewed by Thomas Shane, M.D., Retina Specialist – Last updated October 2, 2026
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are a frequent symptom experienced by many adult patients. Floaters occur due to a common age-related change occurring inside of your eye. The inside of our eyes is filled with a clear substance called vitreous humor. The back layer of tissue in our eyes is called the retina. The vitreous humor completely fills the space inside of our eyes, and thus, is pressed up against our retina (think of the air inside of a soccer ball as your vitreous humor, and the interior wall of the soccer ball itself as your retina!). The Vitreous Humor is attached to the retina through millions of tiny, microscopic collagen fibers.
When we are born, the vitreous humor is more gel-like (similar to Jell-O!). As we age, the vitreous humor becomes more liquified (think of water!). As our eye is undergoing these organic changes, our vitreous humor naturally and spontaneously shrinks away and separates from the retina in the back of the eye. This is called a PVD, or posterior vitreous detachment. A PVD is normal and happens to everyone as we age! Sometimes, as the vitreous jelly separates during the course of a PVD, it can tug on the retina and potentially create a retinal tear or detachment. That is why it is important to have your eye floaters evaluated quickly!
The collagen fibers that were once used as glue to attach your vitreous humor to your retina, are now floating around inside the center of your eye! These collagen fibers can clump together, creating the floater(s) you see in your vision!
Patients who experience floaters will often describe them as mobile dark spots, spider webs, threads, specks, or snake-like opacities in their vision. Many people may mistake their floaters as a small bug close to their eye that they need to swat away! The floaters themselves will follow along with the motion of your eyes, and are most recognized in bright light or against white walls.
What Are Eye Flashes?
Flashes are brief sparks or streaks of light that appear even though no light is there. Most flashes happen when the vitreous gel tugs on the retina. The retina is built to sense light, so when it is pulled, it sends the brain a signal that looks like a flash.
Many people notice flashes most in dim light or a dark room, and when they move their eyes. Flashes often arrive along with new floaters, because the same movement of the gel causes both. Once the gel finishes separating from the retina, the pulling stops and the flashes usually fade.
Flashes From the Retina or From a Migraine?
Some flashes of light have nothing to do with the retina. A migraine aura can cause shimmering, zigzag lines that spread across your vision and usually fade within about 30 minutes. A headache may follow, though some people have the aura with no headache at all. Flashes from the retina are usually quick bursts of light in one eye.
Any new flashes should be checked, even if you think a migraine is the cause. A dilated exam can show whether the retina is the source. Learn more about floaters and flashes from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Patients who experience floaters will often describe them as mobile dark spots, spider webs, threads, specks, or snake-like opacities in their vision.
– Dr. Thomas Shane,
Eye Flashes and Floaters Specialist and founder of Shane Retina
Are Eye Floaters and Flashes Dangerous?
Floaters themselves are not dangerous or harmful to the eye. They do not damage your eye or cause pain, but more so are a nuisance and cause for frustration. Though, it is important to note that floaters can sometimes be the result of a different, underlying problem inside of the eye, other than the natural progression of aging.
About 85 percent of people who have a posterior vitreous detachment never develop a complication. The concern is the smaller group of people whose separating gel pulls hard enough to tear the retina. Among people who see an eye doctor for sudden new floaters or flashes, about 1 in 7 turns out to have a retinal tear.
A tear matters because fluid inside the eye can pass through it and lift the retina off the back wall of the eye. That is a retinal detachment, and it can cause permanent vision loss. When a tear is found before fluid gets underneath it, it can usually be sealed with a quick laser treatment in the office.
Patients that experience a sudden onset of many new floaters could potentially have a retinal tear or retinal detachment. Many times, patients will also experience flashes at the time of new floaters, and may even describe a “curtain” in their vision that does not go away when they move their head. If this is the case, it requires immediate medical treatment.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
A vitreous detachment, or a tear during one, is more likely in:
- Adults over 50, the age when the vitreous most often separates
- People who are nearsighted, especially highly nearsighted
- Anyone who has had cataract surgery, laser surgery inside the eye, or other eye surgery
- Anyone who has had an injury to the eye
- People who have had inflammation inside the eye
- People with a previous retinal tear or detachment in either eye, or a family history of one
- People with thin areas in the retina called lattice degeneration
A tear can happen without any of these risk factors. Anyone with new floaters or flashes should have them checked promptly instead of waiting to see whether they settle.
How do you Diagnose Eye Floaters?
If you are experiencing floaters, especially new ones, you should seek a prompt dilated examination with an ophthalmologist. This will allow an in-depth look into your eye to visualize your floaters. Our office also utilizes a unique video, which allows us to see your floaters and what they look like as you move your eyes about.
What to Expect at Your Floater Evaluation
We offer same-day or next-day appointments for new floaters and flashes. A technician first checks your vision, eye pressure, and side vision. Drops then dilate your pupils so your retina specialist can see the entire retina, all the way to its outer edges. Specialized cameras also take photographs of the retina.
To look for small tears, the doctor may press on the eyelid during the exam. This is called scleral depression. It brings the outer edges of the retina into view, and it can be uncomfortable for some people.
An imaging scan called OCT can show the gel and the center of the retina in fine detail. If bleeding inside the eye blocks the view, an ultrasound of the eye can confirm whether the retina is attached. Before you leave, your retina specialist will explain what was found and what comes next.
Dilation blurs near vision and makes bright light uncomfortable for several hours, so bring sunglasses. Most patients are comfortable driving after dilation. We welcome you to bring a driver if you have any concern.
Even when the retina looks healthy, your doctor may ask you to come back within a few weeks for a second look, because a tear occasionally develops after the first visit. Call sooner if your symptoms change.
Living With Floaters
Most floaters become less noticeable with time. Over weeks to months, many drift out of the center of your vision, and the brain learns to tune them out. When a floater drifts into view, moving your eyes up and down or side to side can shift it out of the way for a moment.
A vitreous detachment in one eye is often followed by one in the other eye within about a year. Watch for new symptoms in either eye, and call us if a fresh burst of floaters or flashes appears.
How do you Treat or Remove Floaters?
Our office recognizes how bothersome floaters can be. Many patients state that their floaters interfere with things they love doing on a daily basis – walking on the beach, reading a good book, or even playing their favorite sport! We want your vision to be the best it can possibly be, so our office provides two potential treatment plans in order to address your chronic floaters. Dr. Shane will evaluate and recommend which procedure is most beneficial for you based on your specific needs!
There are two treatment options available:
- Laser Floater Treatment (A.K.A. Vitreolysis)
- Surgical Floater Removal (A.K.A. Vitrectomy)
Laser Floater Treatment (A.K.A. Vitreolysis)
Here at Shane Retina, we are one of the only retina practices in Florida to be able to provide this treatment to address your nagging floaters!
This option is an in-office procedure and is most suited for patients who are experiencing few, large floaters for at least 6 months.
During the procedure, we will visualize your floaters with a unique video. This allows us to see precisely the size, shape, and make-up of the floaters in your vision. Yes – we will be able to see exactly what you see! Next, Dr. Shane will place a magnification lens on your eye. They will then use a laser to emit a short pulse of energy onto your floater, vaporizing the majority of the floater. This creates a less visually disabling floater, with only small wisps of the original floater remaining in the eye.
Is Laser Floater Treatment Right for You?
Laser floater treatment works best when a floater is large and well-defined and sits a safe distance from both the lens and the retina. A good example is the ring-shaped floater called a Weiss ring, which often forms after a vitreous detachment. Your retina specialist will study the size and position of your floaters on the video and during the exam before recommending it.
Research on laser vitreolysis is still limited. In a small randomized study of 52 patients with a Weiss ring floater, about half of those treated with the laser reported a significant or complete improvement six months later. None of the patients given a sham (placebo) treatment did. The researchers called for larger and longer studies to confirm the results.
Surgical Eye Floater Removal (A.K.A. Vitrectomy)
This option is an outpatient, surgical procedure where the vitreous jelly inside of your eye is completely removed and replaced with a clear saline solution.
This option is most suited for patients that are experiencing multiple, diffuse, or cloud-like floaters, and have significant interference with activities of daily living. The advantage of vitrectomy is that all eye floaters are removed permanently. This painless surgery lasts approximately 15 minutes under local anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center. There are no significant restrictions following surgery, and eye floaters are immediately resolved.
If you have been dealing with eye floaters for at least 6 months, please give our office a call to schedule a consultation for a floater evaluation!
Are there risks for these procedures?
Laser floater removal is a non-invasive procedure with a low risk for complication. Rarely, laser energy may cause a retinal bleed or lens damage. Surgical removal of floaters involves a 1% to 2% risk for retinal detachment in the weeks or months following vitrectomy. Patients who have not yet undergone cataract surgery can expect the earlier-than-expected formation of cataract following vitrectomy.
Dr. Shane will explain all of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment with you during your evaluation and recommend which option is best for you!
How many floater treatments has your office done?
Dr. Shane has performed hundreds of floater treatments – both Laser and Surgical! It makes us so extremely happy when our patients tell us that their vision has significantly improved following a floater treatment, once again reminding us of our goal to improve every patient’s vision!
Before and After Laser Eye Floater Treatment by Dr. Shane
Floater Laser Pre-Op
Floater Laser Post-Op
Before and After Surgical Eye Floater Removal
Vitrectomy Pre-Op
Vitrectomy Post-Op
Laser Floater Treatment FAQs
I’ve had cataract surgery already, can I still undergo a floater treatment procedure?
Yes! Patients who have had Cataract surgery already are still able to receive one of the two floater treatment options above. You should discuss with Dr. Shane which option is best for you!
Will my Health Insurance cover or help pay for a floater treatment?
Dr. Shane is in-network with most major health insurance plans, and both floater treatment options are often covered by your insurance, subject to your preexisting co-pays and deductibles! Our office will obtain authorization with your insurance before performing a procedure. When calling to schedule a floater evaluation appointment, feel free to ask one of our staff members more about this so we can answer any questions you may have!
Do I need a referral for a floater evaluation?
No! You do not need to be referred by another healthcare provider. If you are experiencing floaters, especially new ones, it is important to have them quickly evaluated.
When to Call a Retina Specialist:
Floaters and flashes are usually part of normal aging, but the only way to know your retina is safe is a dilated exam. A tear that is found early is much easier to treat than a detachment.
Call us right away if you notice:
- A sudden shower of new floaters, specks, or cobwebs
- New flashes of light, or flashes that are becoming more frequent
- A gray curtain or shadow moving across part of your vision
- Loss of part of your side vision
- Sudden blurry vision in one eye
- Floaters or flashes after a blow to the eye or face
Do not wait for your next routine appointment. Call our office at (941) 351-1200 and tell us you are having new floaters or flashes so we can see you quickly. If you cannot reach us, go to the nearest emergency room.
It makes us so extremely happy when our patients tell us that their vision has significantly improved following a floater treatment, once again reminding us of our goal to improve every patient’s vision!
– Dr. Thomas Shane,
Eye Flashes and Floaters Specialist and founder of Shane Retina
Eye Floaters & Flashes FAQs
What is an eye floater?
An eye floater is a small moving shadow in your vision caused by tiny strands or debris floating inside the gel in the back of your eye. Floaters often look like dark spots, cobwebs, threads, or drifting specks that move when your eyes move.
Inside the eye is a clear gel called the vitreous. With age, this gel becomes more liquid and can separate from the retina. When that happens, small fibers inside the gel clump together and cast shadows on the retina. Those shadows are what you see as floaters.
Most floaters are a normal part of aging. However, a sudden increase in floaters can sometimes signal a retinal tear or retinal detachment and should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist with a dilated eye examination.
What causes eye floaters?
Eye floaters are most commonly caused by natural aging changes in the gel inside the eye. As this gel shrinks and shifts, small fibers can clump together and create shadows in your vision.
While age-related changes are the most common cause, floaters can also result from:
- A retinal tear
- A retinal detachment
- Bleeding inside the eye
- Inflammation inside the eye
- Eye trauma
If you notice a sudden increase of new floaters, especially with flashes of light or a shadow in your side vision, you should seek prompt evaluation to rule out a retinal tear.
What do eye floaters look like?
Eye floaters usually appear as small moving shapes in your vision. People often describe them as black or gray spots, cobwebs, threads, squiggly lines, or tiny specks that drift when the eyes move.
Floaters tend to be more noticeable when looking at a bright background, such as a clear blue sky, a white wall, or a computer screen. Because floaters are suspended inside the eye, they tend to move away when you try to look directly at them.
Some floaters appear as a ring or circular shape, especially after the vitreous separates from the optic nerve. Others may look like clusters of small dots, sometimes described as “pepper flakes,” which can indicate bleeding inside the eye.
If floaters suddenly increase or change dramatically, especially along with flashes of light or a dark shadow in your vision, we urge you to seek a prompt dilated eye examination to rule out a retinal tear or detachment.
Do eye floaters go away?
Most eye floaters become less noticeable over time, but they rarely disappear completely. As your brain adapts, floaters often fade into the background and interfere less with daily life.
When floaters are caused by normal age-related vitreous changes, they often settle lower in the eye or break apart into smaller pieces. Over weeks to months, they may become lighter, smaller, or easier to ignore.
However, floaters caused by bleeding or a retinal tear will not resolve on their own and require medical evaluation.
A sudden burst of new floaters should always be evaluated promptly to rule out more serious retinal conditions.
For patients with persistent, visually disabling floaters that do not improve with time, treatment options such as laser vitreolysis or vitrectomy may be considered after a careful examination.
How long do eye floaters last?
Eye floaters can last for weeks, months, or even permanently, depending on the cause.
In most age-related cases, they are most noticeable during the first several weeks and gradually become less bothersome over time. After a posterior vitreous detachment, which is the most common cause of floaters, symptoms are often most noticeable during the first few weeks. Over time, many patients report that the floaters fade, shrink, or interfere less with vision.
However, floaters caused by bleeding inside the eye or retinal problems may persist longer and sometimes require treatment. If floaters are stable and not worsening, they are often harmless. If they suddenly increase, change dramatically, or are accompanied by flashes or a shadow in your vision, a prompt dilated exam by a retina specialist is necessary to rule out a retinal tear or detachment.
How do you get rid of eye floaters?
Most eye floaters do not require treatment and become less noticeable over time. However, for patients with persistent, visually disabling floaters, there are medical options available to reduce or remove them.
For mild floaters, observation is usually recommended. As the brain adapts and the debris settles within the eye, many people find that the floaters interfere less with reading, driving, and daily activities.
For more severe cases, two options may be considered:
- Laser Floater Removal (vitreolysis): An in-office procedure that uses a laser to break up large floaters into smaller, less noticeable fragments.
- Vitrectomy: A short outpatient surgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel entirely and replaces it with a clear solution. This can eliminate all or most floaters.
Laser treatment is typically best for a few large floaters, while viitrectomy is more effective for multiple, dense, or cloud-like floaters.
The best treatment depends on the type and severity of your floaters. A dilated examination is necessary before considering any intervention.
What are eye flashes?
Eye flashes are brief streaks or flickers of light that appear in your vision, often described as lightning bolts, sparks, or camera flashes. They occur when the vitreous gel inside the eye pulls or tugs on the retina, stimulating it and causing it to send a false signal of light to the brain.
The retina is designed to detect light. When it is physically irritated by traction or pulling from the vitreous, it interprets that mechanical stimulation as light, even though no external light is present. This is why flashes are often more noticeable in the dark or when moving your eyes.
Occasional flashes that gradually decrease over time are often part of normal aging. However, sudden, frequent flashes, especially when combined with new floaters or a shadow in your vision, should be evaluated promptly to rule out a retinal tear or detachment.
What causes flashes of light in the eyes?
Flashes of light are usually caused by pulling on the retina from the gel inside the eye. As this gel shifts with age, it can briefly stimulate the retina and create the appearance of flashing lights.
This normal age-related process is called posterior vitreous detachment and is the most common cause of eye flashes. In many cases, the flashes decrease over several weeks as the vitreous fully separates and stops pulling.
However, flashes can also occur during a retinal tear. When the retina is stretched or torn, it sends abnormal light signals to the brain. For this reason, new or increasing flashes, especially when accompanied by floaters or a shadow in the peripheral vision, should be evaluated promptly.
Less commonly, flashes may be related to migraine aura, which often produces shimmering or zig-zag lights in both eyes and typically lasts 15 to 30 minutes.
Because the causes of eye flashes can vary from a normal part of aging to signaling an emergency, a careful eye exam is important to determine the source.
Are flashes of light in the eyes serious and when should I worry?
Flashes of light can be harmless, but they can also signal a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which is an eye emergency. Sudden or increasing flashes should never be ignored.
You should seek prompt medical attention if flashes are accompanied by:
- A sudden increase in floaters
- A dark curtain or shadow in your side vision
- A gray or black area spreading across your vision
- Sudden blurry vision in one eye
These symptoms may indicate a retinal tear or detachment and require immediate attention.
If flashes occur in both eyes with shimmering or zig-zag patterns lasting 15 to 30 minutes, they may be related to migraine aura. Even so, new visual symptoms should be evaluated to ensure the retina is intact.
When it comes to flashes and floaters, it is always safer to have a dilated examination than to assume the symptoms are normal. Early detection is the best way to protect your vision.
What does it mean if you have floaters and flashes at the same time?
Seeing floaters and flashes together often means that the gel inside your eye is pulling on the retina. This is commonly due to normal age-related changes, but it can also indicate a retinal tear.
When the vitreous gel in your eye shifts, it can create floaters from tiny strands and flashes from traction on the retina at the same time. In many cases, the process completes without damage. However, if the pulling creates a tear, fluid can pass underneath the retina and lead to a detachment.
You should seek prompt evaluation if floaters and flashes are new, increasing, or accompanied by:
- A dark curtain or shadow in your peripheral vision
- Sudden blurred or distorted vision
- A rapid shower of small black spots
A dilated eye examination is the only way to determine whether the retina is intact and whether treatment is needed.
Several of the reviews below come from patients who called us about new floaters or flashes. Others come from patients who had floaters removed because they were getting in the way of daily life. Those who came in with new symptoms describe getting in quickly and a thorough exam with clear explanations. Some who had floater surgery say they now see better than they have in years.
These reviews are a small sample of what patients have said about their floater and flash care at Shane Retina.
Flashes and floaters are evaluated at Shane Retina by our team of fellowship-trained retina specialists. Because a sudden change in flashes or floaters can signal a retinal tear or detachment, our team provides prompt, thorough evaluation to determine whether treatment is needed.
Thomas Shane, M.D.
Anita Shane, M.D.
Konica Singla, M.D.
Maria Castaños, M.D.
Gabriel Dib, FNP-C
You can receive expert evaluation and treatment for eye floaters at any of our Shane Retina locations throughout Sarasota and Venice, Florida. Each office offers advanced diagnostic testing and proven treatment options for floaters and flashes, including laser floater treatment and surgical floater removal, in a calm and efficient clinical setting.
Sarasota - University Parkway Office
Located just west of I-75 on University Parkway in University Health Park.
Our University Parkway location serves patients from Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, and nearby communities. This office provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for eye floaters, including laser floater treatment and surgical floater removal when indicated.
Sarasota - South Tamiami Trail Office
Located on South Tamiami Trail just south of Bee Ridge Road.
Our South Tamiami Trail location serves patients throughout Sarasota, Siesta Key, and surrounding neighborhoods. This office offers full diagnosis and treatment for eye floaters and flashes, with access to both laser vitreolysis and vitrectomy for chronic floaters.
Venice Retina Office
Located in central Venice near Venetia Bay Boulevard.
Our Venice Retina location serves patients in Venice, North Port, Englewood, and nearby communities. This office provides evaluation and treatment for eye floaters for patients in Venice and surrounding communities.
Schedule Your Floater and Flash Evaluation Today
New floaters or flashes deserve a prompt, careful look. Our retina specialists in Sarasota and Venice can tell you whether your symptoms come from a normal vitreous detachment, a retinal tear that needs treatment, or another cause. If floaters have lingered for months and still get in the way, we can talk with you about laser floater treatment and vitrectomy.
Call us at (941) 351-1200 or schedule online at any of our Sarasota or Venice offices.