Vitreous floaters

What it means

Deposits of various size, shape, consistency, refractive index, and motility within the eye's vitreous humor, which is normally transparent.

Vitreous floaters are described as vitreous condensations (or vitreous debris or vitreous opacities) as a finding upon ophthalmological examination. Floaters can take many forms from little dots, circles, lines, to clouds or cobwebs. The floaters are created by a shadow of the floating vitreal debris that is projected onto the retina, which is described as a veil.

Rare diseases that can present with this12

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Flitting flies · Mouches volantes · Myodeopsia · Myodesopsia · Spots in front of eyes · Vitreous condensations · Vitreous debris · Vitreous opacities