Eye floaters are small, shadowy shapes that drift across your field of vision. They may appear as black or gray specks, strings, or web-like patterns, moving as your eyes shift. These floaters are quite common, affecting nearly 70% of people at some point in their lives. While they can be distracting, they are usually harmless and not a cause for concern.
Floaters originate in the vitreous, a gel-like substance filling the eye. As we age, the vitreous undergoes natural changes, with its protein fibers shrinking and clumping together. These clusters cast shadows on the retina—the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye—resulting in the perception of floaters.
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