You know when you look up at the sky or at a blank Word document on your computer screen and you have little squigglies in your vision? These are called eye floaters. If you have them, you may wonder whether or not they’re something to be concerned about. In truth: it depends. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about floaties in your vision. However, there are some cases where you will need to contact an eye specialist about them.

Here is what you need to know about eye floaters, what causes them, and when they are and are not cause for concern. Let’s get into it!

What Are Eye Floaters?

These are spots in your vision. They can look a few different ways. You may see them as squigglies, black or gray specks, or threads. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. 

You usually notice them when you look at something light-colored, like a blank document, a light wall, the sky, or something else like that. They move with your eye, but there’s usually a lag before the floaters go in the direction your eyes went.

However, if you try to look at a floater, you’ll find that it moves out of your line of vision. Floaters will typically settle down and drift out of your line of vision, causing you to notice them less. 

What Causes Floaters?

Floaters can be caused by a variety of different factors. If you notice a sudden increase in the amount of floaters you have and they start to impact your vision, you should contact an eye doctor right away, as this could be a sign of a serious eye issue. 

Floaters are most commonly caused by vitreous changes. Your vitreous humor is the jelly-like substance within your eye that fills the space between the retina and the lens. It helps to maintain the shape of your eyeball and acts as a shock absorber. Contrary to what you may think, eye floaters aren’t actually on the outside of your eye, but within your vitreous humor.

This is because floaters are created when little clumps form in the vitreous. This can happen simply as a result of aging, due to how your vitreous slowly pulls away from the interior surface of your eyeball. The collagen fibers in the vitreous then form strings and clumps which cast shadows on your retina – aka, floaters.

These are typically quite harmless. However, there are some serious conditions that can cause floaters. These are:

• Inflammation. Uveitis is a type of inflammation at the back of your eye and can result from autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, and infection.
• Bleeding inside the eye. This can happen due to injury, retinal tears, retinal detachment, high blood pressure, diabetes, and blocked blood vessels. What looks like floaters are actually blood cells.
• Retinal tears. Your vitreous naturally contracts now and then. If it contracts too hard, it can tear your retina. If left untreated, this can lead to retinal detachment. 
• Eye medications or surgeries. These can cause bubbles in your vitreous, which look like floaters.

Contrary to what some may believe, contact lenses do not cause floaters. However, since they improve your vision, they can improve your awareness of eye floaters.

Should You Be Concerned About Eye Floaters?

In the majority of cases? No. While floaters may be mildly annoying, they’re not typically something that you need to worry about. If you have concerns, you should bring them up to your eye doctor. 

However, there are cases, as mentioned above, where floaters can indicate more serious issues. You should contact your eye doctor right away if:

• You suddenly have more floaters
• There are a lot more floaters than usual
• There are blurry or grey areas blocking parts of your vision
• You see flashes of light with the floaters
• You have darkness at the side of your vision

While typically painless, these can threaten your vision and need to be treated as soon as possible. 

Some people also experience floaters and flashes during migraines or from standing up too quickly. Treating the cause treats the floaters.

How Do You Treat Eye Floaters?

As mentioned before, you usually don’t need to treat eye floaters. Your eye doctor will tell you whether you do or not.

However, if they are blocking your vision, you can undergo a surgery called a vitrectomy, where your vitreous is replaced with a salt solution. If you have some of the other issues that can cause floaters, or what look like floaters, treating the issue should treat the floaters.

If you are concerned about eye floaters, consult with your eye doctor.

If you want to improve your vision, Wolcott Optical can provide you with both glasses and contact lenses. Contact us today to learn more.

Protecting your eyes is crucial in order to keep them healthy and to keep your vision strong for years to come. This is especially true if your job puts your eyes at risk. About 2000 workers in the United States have an eye-related injury on the job every day. Prescription safety glasses can help you to avoid injury while still being able to see clearly. 

Here’s what you need to know about what prescription safety glasses are like, what they can help with, and why they’re so important to your eye health.

What Are Prescription Safety Glasses?

First things first, prescription safety glasses are just what they sound like. They’re safety glasses with a prescription. Safety glasses are used in environments where your eyes are at risk, such as when you work in a lab and need to protect your eyes from chemicals or when you work on a construction site and need to protect your eyes from any flying particles. 

Prescription safety glasses allow you to be able to see clearly while still protecting your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, then you can just wear normal safety glasses and be fine. However, if you prefer glasses, you cannot wear your glasses under your safety glasses, as this negates their effectiveness. Thus, you would need to get safety glasses that have a prescription. 

What Types Of Jobs Necessitate Safety Glasses?

You can sustain an eye injury in nearly any type of job, however, there are certain jobs that require safety glasses. The Department of Labor says that employees need protective eyewear when their jobs expose them to hazards from flying objects, flying particles, liquid chemicals, chemical gases or vapors, acids, caustic liquids, or light radiation that could cause injury. 

This means that you’d likely need safety glasses if you work in:

• Construction
• Laboratories
• Welding
• Factories
• Mechanical projects
• And more

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) requires employers to provide their employees with the necessary PPE, including safety glasses.

How Are Safety Glasses Different From Regular Glasses?

It’s common for people to assume that their normal glasses are protection enough and that they don’t need safety glasses. This isn’t true. Safety glasses are made out of heavy-duty materials that minimize the risk of shattering. They are heat resistant and thicker than normal glasses. They have 360 coverage, so that they not only protect right in front of your eyes, but also the top, bottom, and sides that normal glasses leave exposed. 

Safety glasses need to meet specific standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and approved by OSHA. Different safety glasses have different safety ratings which are suitable for different jobs. Your job should tell you what safety rating you need. 

Safety glasses both need to meet the standard set and approved by ANSI and OSHA and have the ANSI safety marking on them in order to be truly effective. 

How Do You Get Prescription Safety Glasses?

You can get prescription safety glasses by going to your eye care provider. You can also use your prescription to obtain prescription safety glasses from a safety glasses retailer. You will need to know the ANSI rating that your job requires, as well as your specific needs. Prescription safety glasses can be single-vision, bifocals, progressives, and more.   

It is best to select your prescription safety glasses in person. This is because you need to ensure that they’re comfortable to wear. You’re going to be wearing them for hours on end, after all. Poor-fitting glasses can result in all sorts of problems, from headaches to your glasses constantly sliding down your nose and more.

The right prescription safety glasses have your prescription, meet the ANSI rating of your job, and are comfortable for you to wear. 

Do You Need Prescription Safety Glasses?

As you can see, prescription safety glasses are incredibly important. You cannot choose between protecting your eyes and being able to see clearly. You need both clear vision and eye protection in order to carry out your work safely and efficiently.

Wolcott Optical provides prescription safety glasses. If you are in need of safety glasses, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We will help you select the ideal pair for your specific needs. Contact us today or stop by our store to learn more about the different types of glasses that we carry.