1. A Sudden Increase in Floaters
Most people have a few floaters, those grey specks or cobweb shapes that drift across your field of vision when you look at a bright wall or the sky. They are usually harmless deposits in the vitreous gel inside your eye. What is not harmless: a sudden shower of new floaters, especially if accompanied by flashes of light. This combination can signal a retinal tear or detachment, where the retina peels away from the back of the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology classifies retinal detachment as a medical emergency. You have hours, not days. If you notice a sudden surge of floaters with flashes, go to a hospital eye department the same day.
