What Causes Eye Floaters?

Posted on Tue, 8 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 8 Sep 2015 Answered on

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I was sitting and a man with this colored shirt was standing in front of me. I saw little dots black sort of blinking or moving on his shirt. what is that ?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Floaters

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for sending your query to us
This apparently is what we label as floaters
These are small black dots,constantly moving with the with a small time lag and more visible against light background as sky.
Probably this has no relation to the coloured shirt you showed.
These spots may moove outof your visual axis and will not bother you.If they persist then we offer vit.C 500 mg.for 6 weeks.
We always advice our patients to ignore these spots .They are only significant if theyappear ssuddenly in a bunch.
Please do get back to me in case of any further query in this regard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (27 minutes later)

thanks for responding. doctor I only see them on the shirt no where else and it's everyone I look at the shirt. have you heard of eye illusion. I attached one. the way the dots appear in the photo is how they look when I look at the shirt.

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Floaters

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for getting back to us.
We use alternating light and dark lines to infuce what we call as Optokinetic Nystagmus patternTest.These tests are helpful in diagnosing vestibular defects.In case if there is no other problem then we can wait and watch for a while or conult a neurologist to rule out any defect.
Any further query in this regard please do get back to me immediately.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (50 minutes later)

can you give me an example of vestibular defects ?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Floaters

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
good of you to get back to us.
Vestibulitis,cochlear otolith,and vestibular neuritis may occur but you have to understand and don't jump to conclusions as these are severe disorders which have strong presenting symptoms and not present with a obscure and questionable finding like this.

If you are otherwise fine, then do not worry.

Still any further query, you are welcome to get back to me.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (9 minutes later)

a few weeks ago I was very very dizzy. I went to an ent who thought I had bppv. I did physical therapy and the dizziness stopped. if the therapy made the dizziness is it caused by bppv? and can bppv cause optokinetic nystagmus ? thank you Dr you are so smart and kind.

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
floaters

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

Good to have you back.

These are important issues. Benign positional vertigo is usually due to cochlear otolith. Even otherwise few weeks of treatment can set things right. You have apparently been following the correct procedure and the whole picture is basically inter related and you have to continue with the treatment advised properly. Again these problems tend to recur over a passage of time.

When you are finished with the treatment do emphasize on exercises and yoga. They go a long way in keeping you trouble free.
Any more issue, you are always welcome.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad