Can You Prevent Eye Floaters?
There isn’t a guaranteed way to prevent normal age-related floaters.
However, protecting your overall eye health remains important.
Regular eye examinations can help detect eye conditions early, particularly for people with risk factors for eye disease.
Wearing appropriate eye protection during activities that could cause injury is also a sensible precaution.
Don’t Panic—But Don’t Ignore Sudden Changes
Seeing a few familiar floaters isn’t automatically a reason to panic.
The important distinction is between long-standing, stable floaters and new or rapidly increasing symptoms.
If you suddenly see many new floaters, flashes, a curtain-like shadow, or changes in your vision, don’t simply wait for the symptoms to disappear.
Get your eyes checked promptly.
The Bottom Line
Eye floaters are extremely common, and in many cases they’re simply a normal consequence of changes in the vitreous as we age.
But your eyes can sometimes give you an important warning.
A sudden increase in floaters—especially when accompanied by flashes or a dark curtain over your vision—requires urgent medical attention.
When it comes to sudden changes in vision, it’s better to have your eyes examined and discover that everything is fine than to ignore a symptom that could threaten your sight.
