---
title: "Flashes and floaters | Eye Health Guide"
description: "What flashes and floaters mean, why they happen with age, and the warning signs of retinal detachment that need emergency care. Clinically reviewed."
url: https://eyehealthguide.org/symptoms/flashes-and-floaters/
source: Eye Health Guide
licence: "General information only. Cite the URL and the named medical reviewer."
---

Symptom

# Flashes and floaters

A sudden increase is an emergency

Medical reviewer [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/mohamed-mohyudin/)· Last recorded site review July 6, 2026

### About this review

This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.

[How review works](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/) · [Official biography & credentials](https://mohamedmohyudin.co.uk/author/mohamed-mohyudin/)

Quick answer

Occasional floaters and the odd flash of light are common and usually harmless, often from age-related changes in the eye. But a sudden increase in floaters, repeated flashes, or a dark shadow or curtain over your vision is an emergency and needs same-day assessment.

## When to get urgent help

- A sudden increase in floaters, like a shower of spots
- New or repeated flashes of light
- A dark shadow or curtain spreading across your vision
- A sudden drop in vision

### On this page ⌄

1. When to get urgent help
2. Common causes
3. What can help
4. Frequently asked questions

## Common causes

Flashes and floaters relate to the back of the eye. These are the key conditions to read about next.

## What can help

- Stable, long-standing floaters usually need no treatment
- Treat any sudden change as an emergency
- Have an eye test if floaters bother you or change

## Frequently asked questions

### Are flashes and floaters serious?

Occasional floaters are usually harmless, but a sudden increase in floaters or flashes, or a shadow over your vision, needs same-day assessment to rule out retinal detachment.

### What causes flashes of light in the eye?

Flashes often happen when the eye's gel tugs on the retina. New or repeated flashes should be checked promptly.

### Do floaters go away?

Long-standing floaters often become less noticeable over time. A sudden change, however, should be assessed urgently.

Your next step

## Take this to your appointment

Write down what has changed, when it started, your current medicines and the questions you want answered. Take these to your eye-care appointment.

Sudden loss of sight, severe eye pain or a dark curtain across vision needs immediate assessment. Do not wait to complete a worksheet.

## Sources for this information

These references support the information on this page. Follow the linked source for its full context.

- [NHS — Floaters and flashes in the eyes](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/floaters-and-flashes-in-the-eyes/)
- [National Eye Institute - Floaters](https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/floaters)