Verdict: FALSE.
An often benign phenomenon
These small mobile spots, called “floaters” or myodesopsia, are very common. They most often correspond to tiny condensations of the transparent gel which fills the interior of the eye, the vitreous.
With age, this gel naturally changes and these opacities become more visible. They follow the movements of the gaze before slowly falling, giving the impression of floating in front of the eyes.
In the majority of cases, they have no effect on vision.
When should you worry?
The context is decisive.
The sudden appearance of a multitude of floaters, especially if it is accompanied by flashes of light, a decline in vision or the impression that a dark veil is invading the visual field, requires an urgent ophthalmological consultation.
These symptoms may reflect damage to the retina which must be treated quickly to preserve vision.
Why not wait?
Even though most floaters are benign, it is impossible to distinguish a normal course from an ophthalmological emergency on your own.
A fundus examination makes it possible to verify that the retina is intact and to rule out a complication.
What to remember
Seeing a few “flying flies” is generally a phenomenon linked to the aging of the eye. On the other hand, their sudden appearance or their association with flashes of light requires rapid consultation.
Advice from Dr Gérald Kierzek
You should always think about retinal detachment. Typical signs are the sudden appearance of floating bodies (“flying flies”) in rain, flashes of light, then a black veil or shadow that invades part of the field of vision, often like a curtain coming down, all without pain and on only one eye. The risk is increased by high myopia, a history of cataract surgery, trauma or detachment that has already occurred in the other eye. This is an ophthalmological emergency: these symptoms require a consultation the same day, because lost vision does not always recover if the macula is affected.