[Click! Health] 'Bimunjeung' with Flies in Front of Your Eyes... Could Be a Warning Sign of Blindness

If you keep staring at the white part of a monitor or look at the clear sky on a sunny day, at some point you may see black thread-like spots, spider webs, or insects like flies flying in front of your eyes. This symptom is called 'floaters.' Floaters themselves are a natural symptom caused by aging and are quite common, experienced by about 7 out of 10 people, and usually pose no problem.

If symptoms such as photopsia, visual field obstruction, decreased vision, eye pain, or redness occur along with floaters, it is advisable to undergo a fundus examination of the entire retina.
[Photo by Kim Eye Hospital]

The main cause of floaters is vitreous degeneration due to aging. According to Kim Eye Hospital on the 21st, their patient statistics show that about 88% of all floater patients over the past five years, from 2018 to last year, were in their 40s or older, when aging gradually begins, making it common among middle-aged and older adults. The vitreous is a colorless, transparent gel-like tissue filling the space between the lens and the retina. As one ages, it shrinks, clumps, or wrinkles, and the shadows of these vitreous changes appear on the retina in shapes like threads or insects, causing floaters.

This is a normal process that occurs with aging and usually does not require special treatment, although it rarely disappears completely. If the opacity is severe and causes significant discomfort in daily life, surgery may be performed in limited cases, but generally, surgery is avoided due to the risk of complications, and the condition is monitored.

However, if you belong to a high-risk group for retinal detachment or experience other symptoms such as visual field obstruction or photopsia, treatment may be necessary as it could indicate other retinal diseases. High-risk groups for retinal detachment have a higher probability of developing retinal tears along with floaters, which can lead to retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a condition where the retina separates from the inner wall of the eyeball and can lead to blindness if not treated promptly. High-risk groups include patients who have had laser treatment due to retinal tears or thinning of the peripheral retina, or those who have undergone retinal detachment surgery in the opposite eye. Additionally, patients with moderate to high myopia also have an increased risk of retinal detachment.

Especially if you see flashing lights called 'photopsia' when moving your eyes, experience visual field obstruction as if a curtain is drawn over your vision, decreased visual acuity, eye pain, or redness along with floaters, it is advisable to visit an ophthalmologist promptly for a fundus examination of the entire retina, including the peripheral areas. Besides retinal detachment or retinal tears, if vitreous opacity occurs, it is also important to consider other retinal diseases such as uveitis or vitreous hemorrhage.

Dr. Saemi Park, a retinal specialist at Kim Eye Hospital, said, “Floaters are symptoms that can naturally appear due to aging. However, if they do not improve over time, if the number or size of the floaters increases, or if other symptoms such as visual field obstruction or photopsia accompany them, these may be early signs of other eye diseases, so it is important to seek ophthalmic examination promptly.”