Black Spots in Vision

Black spots in vision, referred to as eye floaters in the world of medicine, are the dark spots which seem to move in front of our eyes. These floaters, or dark spots, can be of any shape or size. The condition in which a person experiences these dark spots in vision is not harmful and hence considered to be perfectly normal process relating to aging. At times, however, one may see a sudden rise in such occurrences, which may or may not be an underlying cause of a particular medical condition of the eye. In such circumstances, it's wiser to consult an ophthalmologist at the earliest. Read more on eye care.

Signs and Symptoms of Floaters in the Eye
As the name suggests, the most prominent among the various signs and symptoms of floaters in the eye is the appearance of black spots floating in front of the eyes. These spots may last for approximately 10 to 20 minutes, if they continue to exist then you may have to consult the ophthalmologist. These black spots in vision may be accompanied by vision problems or reduction of vision. At times, the person may also experience large number of floaters at the same time, which may obstruct the vision and thus make it difficult for the person to concentrate.

Black Spots in Vision Causes
Our eyeballs contain a transparent gel-like substance known as vitreous. It lies between the lens and retina, and is firmly attached to the retina itself. Any disturbance or damage caused to the vitreous causes a shadow to be formed on the retina, which gives the appearance of black spots in the eyesight. Here are some prominent factors which can harm the vitreous and result in floaters on the eyes. Read more on eye floater causes.

Aging: One of the most common causes of floaters in the eyes is aging. With age the vitreous starts to deteriorate and liquefy. This in turn leads to formation of clumps of proteins in the fluid. When these clumps start to float in front of of the eye, they appear as if black spots are floating in front of you.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment: An important cause of black spots in the vision is posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). As we grow older, the vitreous tends to liquefy and contract. As it contracts, it separates from the retina. This separation is referred to as posterior vitreous detachment.

Infections: Various eye infections can also result in formation of these black spots. When the debris of bacteria and lymphocytes get caught in the vitreous they tend to disturb the vision, thus giving the appearance of black spots in the eyesight.

Migraine: Migraine, a neurological condition, is most often characterized by severe pain on one side of head. A person suffering from migraine strokes is known to experience black spots in vision and headache simultaneously.

Surgeries: Various surgeries of the eyes can also cause floaters in vision. Surgeries such as YAG laser eye surgery for cataract has high chances of vitreous detachment, which in turn may lead to black spots.

Floaters in the Eye Treatment
Generally, these black spots are harmless and hence don't really require much attention, but if they tend to cause significant vision impairment then one may have to undertake treatment for black spots in vision. Removal of the vitreous surgically is one of the options for treating floaters. If these black spots are caused by infection, treating the infection will help in getting rid of them. If a woman experiences black spots in vision during pregnancy, then she should report this to the doctor and take the necessary measures to curb them or their underlying factors.

One shouldn't take unnecessary risks, especially when the problem is related to the eyes. The same is the case with black spots in vision. As a precautionary measure, one has to continuously monitor his eyesight and eye problems, if any, should be promptly referred to the doctor.