Are you wondering, “Why am I seeing spots?” You’re not alone. After all, we’ve all probably stared at a lamp a little too long or accidentally caught a glimpse of the sun. When you close your eyes after one of these episodes, you might notice spots, and these spots usually disappear within a few minutes. But in some cases, seeing spots is actually a sign of a larger health issue.
Why Am I Seeing Spots?
You’re Having an Ocular Migraine.
One cause for seeing spots is an ocular migraine. In fact, seeing spots is usually the first indicator of an impending migraine. These spots look unusual in nature, and each person has a different experience. For example, some people might see stars or zigzags, while others see spots that block their field of vision. However you experience an ocular migraine, your vision will usually go back to normal within an hour or when your migraine resolves. If you frequently get ocular migraines, it could be a sign that you have a hormonal imbalance, such as estrogen dominance (source).
You Have a Torn or Detached Retina.
Seeing spots, also referred to as floaters, can be an indicator of a torn retina, which is an eye emergency. If you don’t receive help quickly, you could permanently lose vision in your eye. Other signs of a torn or detached retina include flashes of light, blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, or a shadow over your entire field of vision. Detached retinas can be caused by the natural aging process, eye surgery (such as cataract surgery), a previous eye injury, or an eye disease like retinoschisis.
You Have Eye Inflammation.
Inflammation in the back of your eye can also cause you to see spots. This condition, known as posterior uveitis, affects the layers of the uvea in the back of the eye. When the eye becomes inflamed, fluid and debris can enter the vitreous part to the eye, showing up as floaters. This condition is usually the result of an infection or an inflammatory disease. Treatment involves addressing the root of the problem.
You Have Internal Bleeding in Your Eye.
Another cause of seeing floaters is blood inside your eye, which is a symptom of a few different conditions. One common cause of internal bleeding inside the eye is an eye injury. If you’ve sustained a hit to your eye, always visit an optometrist immediately following the incident. Eye complications from diabetes can also cause blood to collect in your eyes because chronic high blood sugar can force the blood vessels in your eyes to leak blood. Chronic high blood pressure can also trigger a hemorrhage inside your eye. Unfortunately, eye damage from high blood sugar and high blood pressure is generally irreversible. If you struggle with either one of these issues, do your best to keep your levels in check.
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Are you wondering, “Why am I seeing spots?” Play it safe, and book an appointment with your optometrist right away. If you live in southwest Missouri, contact Heffington’s. Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an email to [email protected], or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!