Floaters and flashes in the eyesOverview

Dots and lines (floaters) or flashes of light in the eyes are common. They're not usually serious.

Floaters and flashes are usually harmless

If you sometimes see:

  • flashes of light


  • you have had them for a long time
  • they're not getting worse
  • your vision is not affected

Flashes may stop by themselves, and floaters often become less noticeable as you get used to them.

Get advice from 111 now if:

  • floaters or flashes appear suddenly
  • floaters or flashes suddenly increase in number
  • you also have blurred vision
  • you also have eye pain
  • floaters start after eye surgery or an eye injury


111 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Other ways to get help

Get an urgent opticians appointment

You can get your eyes checked at an opticians.


Find an opticians

What happens at your appointment



Causes of floaters and flashes


They're usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which happens as you get older.

Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment.

This is a serious condition where a thin layer that sends signals to the brain (the retina) pulls away from the back of the eye. It can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.

Floaters and flashes can also happen for no obvious reason.

Page last reviewed: 04/08/2017
Next review due: 04/08/2020