Blog Hero

What Doctor Do I See for Eye Floaters?

Book Appointment
Graphical representation of eye floaters. A cross section of an eye with small floaters inside the vitreous fluid, is shown to project the floaters as what someone would see.

What Doctor Do I See for Eye Floaters?

Eyecare is an essential part of everyday life, whether that means keeping up with your eye exams or needing any specialty eye care procedures.  An aspect of taking care of your eyes is dealing with any issues that may come up and consulting your optometrist about it.

One of these issues that may come up is eye floaters. 

Let’s explore what eye floaters are, the causes, what doctor to see if you get them, and how to treat them.

What Are Eye Floaters? 

Eye floaters are tiny specks or strings that can float into your field of vision. These eye floaters can be a nuisance but normally do not cause any pain or discomfort. 

The appearance of eye floaters may come in the form of:

  • Shadowy dots or specks
  • Small lines
  • Rings
  • Cobweb shapes
  • Other irregular shapes 

They can vary in size, and occasionally a large floater may appear and cast a shadow over your vision, resulting in a dark spot in your sight. 

Eye floaters are inside your eye fluid—they move as your eyes move and may appear in only one eye or both. Even if floaters are tiny, they can significantly affect your vision, as they are very close to the input of your eye. 

Eye Floater Causes

Eye floaters are natural due to the eye’s vitreous body – the vitreous provides physical support, lining the inside of the eye and acts as a storage zone for metabolites.  It is a complex meshwork made of fibers that feels like a jelly-like substance. 

When the vitreous begins to shrink, the fibers can clump together which creates shadows in our vision.  As the small fibers clump become entangled, small masses or thick string-like masses can develop and cast tiny shadows in the eye, making the floaters noticeable.

Eye floaters are a normal part of the aging process and are more common after the age of 60.

Anyone can get eye floaters at some point, but because they’re relatively painless and shouldn’t cause you much discomfort, they are ignored.

Some less common causes of eye floaters include:

  • Eye injury—if the eye is hit or damaged by an object during an accident, you may experience eye floaters.
  • Nearsightedness—nearsighted people can experience eye floaters more frequently.
  • Inflammation—swelling and inflammation in the eye caused by infection may cause eye floaters.
  • Diabetic retinopathy—diabetes can damage blood vessels that lead to the retina. When those blood vessels become damaged, the retina may struggle to interpret the images and lights hitting it. 

The causes of eye floaters can vary, but usually, people allow them to linger because of the low level of discomfort.    

Graphical representation of two eye cross sections. The left is a normal eye showing healthy blood vessels, while the right is an eye with diabetic retinopathy showing tiny blood vessels that leak fluid into the retina to create floaters.

Treating Eye Floaters

Eye floaters don’t require treatment in most cases. However, they can be irritating when you notice them—they don’t directly negatively impact your vision. In most cases, eye floaters settle down to the bottom of your eye, beneath the field of vision. 

However, there are certain situations when eye floaters can be considered an emergency. You should contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist and get treatment.

If you see eye floaters and: 

  • They begin occurring more frequently, or the floater changes in intensity, size, or shape
  • You see flashes of light
  • You lose your peripheral vision
  • You develop eye pain
  • You have blurred vision or loss of vision
  • You develop light sensitivity

These symptoms combined with eye floaters may be a sign of more dangerous conditions such as: 

  • Vitreous detachment
  • Vitreous hemorrhage
  • Retinal tear
  • Retinal detachment
  • Anterior or Posterior segment inflammation

Most eye floaters will not require any treatment, and they can be a nuisance and rarely signal a more serious problem.

However, eye floaters can impair your vision, particularly if the underlying condition worsens. If your condition worsens, your optometrist or ophthalmologist may recommend treatment in the form of laser removal or surgery.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists work together to deliver the best possible treatment for you.

Treating eye floaters depends on severity.

Taking Care of Your Vision

Even though most instances of eye floaters do not require treatment, you may feel problematic symptoms developing in some cases. At that point, it’s best to get in touch with your optometrist and explore your options to treat any issues. Book an appointment with your Ottawa optometrist today for more information.

Come visit our team

We’re located in Suite 216 in the 350 Sparks Street Office. We share an underground parking garage with the Hilton Garden Inn at 361 Queen Street. The parking garage can be accessed via Queen Street.

Our Address

  • 350 Sparks Street, Suite 216
  • Ottawa, ON K1R 7S8

Contact Information

Hours Of Operation

Monday:
9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Thursday:
9:00 AM 5:00 AM
Friday:
9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed

Check Out Our Google Reviews

View Our Blogs

Are Blue Eyes More Sensitive to Light?

Eye Conditions

Yes, people with blue eyes may be more sensitive to light compared to those with darker eye colours. […]

Read More… from Are Blue Eyes More Sensitive to Light?

August 11, 2025
Downtown Eye Care & The Contact Lens Department

Why Pediatric Eye Exams Matter More Than You Think

Eye Exams

Pediatric eye exams are useful for detecting vision problems early and supporting healthy development across every stage of childhood. […]

Read More… from Why Pediatric Eye Exams Matter More Than You Think

July 3, 2025
Downtown Eye Care & The Contact Lens Department

When to Seek Emergency Eye Care: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Eye Care, Eye Conditions, Eye Health

If you experience sudden vision loss, injury, or chemical exposure, it’s time to seek emergency eye care immediately. Understanding the symptoms and acting fast can help protect your vision and overall eye health. […]

Read More… from When to Seek Emergency Eye Care: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

June 10, 2025
Downtown Eye Care & The Contact Lens Department
A close up of a person's blue eyes

Yes, people with blue eyes may be more sensitive to light compared to those with darker eye colours. […]

Read More… from Are Blue Eyes More Sensitive to Light?

A young person smiles as she undergoes an eye exam.

Pediatric eye exams are useful for detecting vision problems early and supporting healthy development across every stage of childhood. […]

Read More… from Why Pediatric Eye Exams Matter More Than You Think

Patient with an eye patch being examined by a medical professional.

If you experience sudden vision loss, injury, or chemical exposure, it’s time to seek emergency eye care immediately. Understanding the symptoms and acting fast can help protect your vision and overall eye health. […]

Read More… from When to Seek Emergency Eye Care: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Our Contact Lens Brands

instagram facebook facebook2 pinterest twitter google-plus google linkedin2 yelp youtube phone location calendar share2 link star-full star star-half chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down chevron-up envelope fax