Flies and the dangers they hide

At some point in our lives, all of us have seen flies pass before our eyes. But what do we mean by “flies”? They may look like small spots, dots, circles, semicircles, lines or spider webs, which appear in our field of vision. While they appear to be in front of us, they are actually floating inside the eye. They occur when the vitreous, a jelly-like substance that fills the eye, begins to shrink and liquefy, creating a shadow on the retina. That is, the visual impression of spots or thin lines that “float” freely within the field of vision is created for the patient.

What can they be caused by?

Flies usually appear when looking at something white or very bright. They are usually part of a normal aging process, but sometimes they can hide something more serious like a retinal tear or inflammation inside the eye.

Risk factors include:

• Age 45 years or older
• Refractive problems, such as mainly high myopia
• After cataract surgery
• After trauma
• Inflammation in the eye

Do the flashes mean that?

The retina of the eye works like the film of a camera. That is, it receives a light stimulus and then translates it into an electrical stimulus, which is sent to the brain and creates visual perception. So when the retina has undergone some kind of tear, the vision cells receive mechanical stimulation and send an electrical stimulus to the brain that is perceived by the patient as a “flash”. Flashes and flashes may look like flashing lights or lightning in your field of vision. Flashes may occur in one or both eyes.

When should you visit the eye doctor?

When flies appear at the same time as intense flashes it can be a symptom:

• vitreous detachment
• retinal detachment
• retinal tears

In this case, the need to make an appointment with a specialized ophthalmologist becomes imperative as a fundoscopy must be performed. Underestimation of the problem and inadequate treatment can lead to vision loss. Contact the specialized ophthalmologist Georgios Trichona in vitreous-retinal diseases for a personalized diagnosis, recommending a specific treatment plan, based on the stage of the disease and your symptoms.