The NHS is warning that if you notice animal-related symptoms in your eyes, you may need to see a doctor. Listing shapes that could signal an issue that needs medical attention, they say that “cobwebs” is one of them.
Listed on the NHS website, they note whilst dots and lines (floaters) or flashes of light in your vision are “common” and “not usually serious”, if you have them alongside other symptoms, call 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment.
Floaters in your vision can look like:
- small dark dots
- squiggly lines
- rings
- cobwebs
Flashes look like sudden flashes of light and are “usually harmless and not a sign of anything serious, especially if:
- you’ve had them for a long time
- they’re not getting worse
- your vision is not affected
What causes flashes and floaters in my eye?
There are many reasons why a person gets floaters and flashes – and it’s pretty common in older people. Often they’re caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eyes changes.
Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment. This is serious and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.
Do I need an urgent GP appointment?
The health service warns that you need to ask for an urgent opticians appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have floaters or flashes in your vision for the first time
- you suddenly get floaters or flashes in your vision
- the number of floaters or flashes suddenly increases
- you have a dark “curtain” or shadow moving across your vision
- you also have blurred vision
- you also have eye pain
- floaters start after eye surgery or an eye injury
Their warning comes as if you have this, it could be a sign of a “serious problem with the back of your eye, which could permanently affect your vision if it’s not treated quickly.”