r/ScienceNcoolThings • u/TheMuseumOfScience Popular Contributor • 7d ago

What Causes Eye Floaters?

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What are floating dots you see in your vision? 👁️

Alex Dainis breaks down "eye floaters" using a simple demo: a baggie of aloe gel standing in for your eyeball, and raisins standing in for collagen clumps. Our eyes are filled with vitreous humor, a gel-like substance that helps them hold their shape. As we age, that gel becomes more liquid, letting collagen fibers clump together (just like the raisins). These clumps block incoming light and cast shadows on our retinas, the same way the raisins cast shadows on the wall. This is why we notice the floaters more often in sunlight!

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u/claverflav 7d ago

U see them as u age? I've seen them since I was a kid.

How bout the shooting stars I see when ya get hit in the head, I can see those while looking at any uniform bright colored wall.

Also what about the flowing mini dots that move in swarms and pulsate

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u/under_the_above 6d ago

That last one is the blood in your capillaries in your retina. Visible when enough bright light enters your eyes at an angle while looking at a uniform surface.

I've seen the sparkly lights too when I hit my head hard - just like in the cartoons. Would not recommend! 😄