Treating Flashes and Floaters

Most often, seeing a few flashes and floaters is normal. Some people may notice them for a while after eye surgery. Most flashes and floaters need no treatment. But sometimes they can be signs of a serious eye problem.

What Are Flashes and Floaters?

As you age, you are more likely to get flashes and floaters in your vision. Here is an explanation of what these are and when to get medical care.

First Aid: Heart Attacks

A heart attack is an emergency, but the condition that causes it usually takes years to develop. Over time, fatty substances collect on the walls of the heart's arteries. As these arteries become narrower, it's more likely that one will become fully clogged, causing a heart attack.

First Aid: Cold Exposure

Intense cold can freeze the water in the body's cells (frostbite). In addition, exposure to cold may cause the body's overall temperature to drop (hypothermia). The result can be death.

First Aid: Head Injuries

A strong blow to the head may cause swelling and bleeding inside the skull. The resulting pressure can injure the brain (concussion).

First Aid: Sprains and Fractures

A sprain happens when the ligaments, or fibrous tissue, connecting bones at a joint pulls or tears. Most sprains hurt, and some take even longer than a broken bone to heal. A fracture may happen when a bone is hit with more force than it can bear.

First Aid: Cuts and Scrapes

A break in the skin is an open door, inviting dirt and germs to enter your body and cause infection. Learn how to prevent infection with correct first-aid care.