Choose the content to read
- What causes black spots in vision?
- What are the symptoms of eye floaters?
- Eye floaters require immediate medical attention
- How are black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision diagnosed?
- How are black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision treated?
- Prevention of black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision
Black spots in vision
Black spots in vision, floating cobwebs when looking at the sky, or seeing flashing lights in the eyes may be signs of eye floaters, causes of seeing black spots, black squiggly lines or cobwebs, or spiderlike shapes in the eye, or it may be signs of retinal disorders such as retinal tears, retinal detachment, or vitreous hemorrhage, which require immediate intervention as it can cause complications and permanent vision loss. Black spots in the vision due to retinal disorder can improve if you meet with the ophthalmologist as soon as symptoms appear. Individuals who notice black spots, cobwebs, or flashing lights in their vision should seek medical attention for a thorough evaluation.
What causes black spots in vision?
Typically, black spots in vision, cobwebs, or seeing flashing lights in the eyes are caused by age-related vitreous degeneration or nearsightedness. The vitreous humor, a gel-like substance similar to egg white, located between the lens and the retina, serves as a medium for light to pass through. As we age, the vitreous humor deteriorates into a clear liquid, while some of it shrinks or forms tiny, opaque sediments that detach from the inner layer of the retina via the macula (posterior vitreous detachment), resulting in eye floaters and black spots floating in vision.
Eye floaters can also be caused by complications from certain diseases or conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, or retinal tears, resulting in floating black spots, light flashing, or cobwebs in the eye, similar to dust stuck on a camera lens, which can be seen everywhere no matter which direction the eyes are rolled. Individuals experiencing eye floaters should seek medical attention as soon as possible for a thorough diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of eye floaters?
- Seeing floating black dots, floating black squiggly lines when looking at a clear sky
- Seeing floating cobwebs or threadlike lines resembling spider webs when rolling eyes
- Seeing the light flashing or sudden lightning when opening or closing the eyes, both in dark and bright environments
Eye floaters require immediate medical attention
- Seeing multiple dark spots in a short period of time
- Sudden onset of floating black spots, particularly in one eye
- Seeing frequent, sudden lightning, light flashing, and dark shadows obscuring a portion of the vision field
- Loss of peripheral vision in one or both eyes, narrowed vision field
- Eye accident, eye blood clot, eye bleeding, eye congestion
- Sudden vision loss, blurred vision, rapid decrease in vision
How are black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision diagnosed?
The ophthalmologist will diagnose black spots, cobwebs, or flashing lights in your vision by inquiring about your medical history, including whether you have nearsightedness, a family history of retinal tears and detachments, a history of accidents, underlying diseases, and medications, followed by a physical examination and additional exams at the ophthalmologist's discretion, as follows:
Medical history
- When was the first time you noticed floating black spots, cobwebs, or flashing lights, and duration?
- Appearance of the black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights, and frequency of occurrence
- Have you had previous eye surgery or cataract surgery?
- Have you had an eye injury or been traumatized by an accident?
- Loss of peripheral vision, seeing a dark shadow on the side, or a dark shadow in vision.
- Retinal abnormalities in one or both eyes, whether the abnormality is constant or increasing
Eye examination
- Slit-lamp examination
- Visual acuity test
- Refraction test
- Tonometry test
- Fundoscopic examination
Advanced eye examination
- Dilated Eye Exam
- Wide-field fundus photography
- Optical coherence tomography
Comorbidity test
The ophthalmologist may order additional physical tests if suspicious symptoms are detected that may contribute to black spots in vision, including:
- Diabetes testing measures blood sugar levels to diagnose diabetic retinopathy
- MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) of the optic nerve, spinal cord, or brain
- Cerebral angiogram to look for cerebral vascular stenosis, occlusion, or blood clots in the brain
How are black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision treated?
Typically, black spots in vision, cobwebs in the eyes, or flashing lights in the eye caused by vitreous degeneration are not life-threatening and do not require treatment. Over time, the brain gradually adjusts its perception and accustoms itself to floating black spots in vision.
However, if the number of black spots increases, narrowed vision fields, or other vision abnormalities occur, it is critical to see an ophthalmologist to evaluate your symptoms. The ophthalmologist may consider the treatment options as follows:
- Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV): in case there are other associated retinal diseases besides eye floaters, such as epiretinal membrane, vitreous hemorrhage, or retinal detachment. The ophthalmologist may consider injecting gas to fill the space left by the removed, deteriorated vitreous tissue.
- Laser disintegration of eye floaters is a procedure using a specialized laser to target floating black spots, black shadows, or black squiggly lines, causing them to break down into smaller particles, thus improving vision. This treatment requires an expert ophthalmologist experienced in treating black spots in vision caused by eye floaters to reduce the risk of potential retinal damage.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Complications of black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision
Black spots in vision, cobwebs, or flashing lights in the eyes may be complications of serious eye diseases that require immediate medical attention for diagnosis and intervention, including:
- Retinal tear and retinal detachment: This occurs when a retinal hole or detachment forms following degenerated vitreous gel retraction from the retina, allowing vitreous fluid to seep into the retina, resulting in blurred vision, black spots, and a rapid decrease in vision, like dark shadows obscuring vision all the time.
- Diabetic retinopathy: Floating black spots caused by diabetes complications cause degenerated capillaries throughout the body, including the retina, resulting in vitreous hemorrhage, blurred vision, retinal protein and fatty acid leakage, epiretinal membrane, and the risk of permanent vision loss.
Prevention of black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision
Black spots in vision, cobwebs, or flashing lights in the eyes are mostly caused by age-related macular degeneration, which cannot be prevented. However, the severity of these symptoms and the risk of complications can be reduced by seeing an ophthalmologist as soon as you notice symptoms and taking good care of your health according to the following practices:
- Have an annual health checkup or an eye exam every 2 years.
- Those with diabetes or high blood pressure should regularly monitor their blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
- Wear sunglasses or eyeglasses to protect your eyes from UVA/UVB rays, cigarette smoke, dust, and particles.
- Take a break from the screen or book to rest your eyes, e.g., looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
- Eat vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins A, C, E, and omega-3 to nourish the retina and reduce the risk of developing black spots in vision.
- If you notice black spots, squiggly lines, cobwebs, sudden flashing light in the eyes, or sudden loss of vision, see the doctor right away.
Black spots, cobwebs, flashing lights in vision are treatable with early treatment
Currently, black spots, cobwebs, or flashing lights in vision can be treated for better vision with Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or laser coagulation technology to seal the retinal hole and reduce the tethering effect of the degenerated vitreous on the retina, which helps flatten the retina against the retinal bed and prevent retinal detachment.
Individuals experiencing sudden blurred vision, noticing a rapid increase in floating black spots, seeing black squiggly lines when looking at a clear sky, blank paper, or a white wall, noticing flashing light like lightning while closing their eyes regardless of whether they are in dark or bright places, seeing dark shadows like curtains obscuring vision, seeing wavy images, or having a significant decrease in vision should urgently seek medical attention. The chance of improved vision depends on the severity of the disease, the duration of the retinal detachment, and a speedy visit to the ophthalmologist once the symptoms appear.
