Eye Floaters + Diabetes: When Should You Be Concerned?

While anyone can develop eye conditions, floaters are more common in people with diabetes, especially those who have developed diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema.

For some, you may not know you have an eye condition like retinopathy, and the development of floaters can actually be what leads you to schedule an eye exam and receive a diagnosis.

What are eye floaters?

Eye floaters are small specks, black or gray dots, circles, lines or cobwebs that drift across your field of vision. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), they can take on many different shapes.

What you’re actually seeing is a shadow being cast on your retina, possibly from a cluster of cells, a clump of leaked fluid or leaked blood from damaged blood vessels—this can happen from prolonged high blood sugar levels.

You may notice that floaters move with your vision, and they can make reading very tedious and frustrating at times.

While some floaters may be harmless and temporary, for people with diabetes, they can be a sign of a more significant issue in the eyes. This is not something you should ignore.

What causes eye floaters in people with diabetes?

Floaters in people with diabetes are most often linked to retinopathy, macular edema or other eye changes related to blood sugar levels. Floaters are common in people with diabetes who:

• Have retinopathy
• Have macular edema or other swelling issues
• Have undergone cataract surgery
• Are nearsighted

If your floaters are the result of a diabetes-related eye complication, it’s important to work with your healthcare team to improve your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, reach your A1C target, and follow through on treatment for your specific eye condition.

Are eye floaters permanent or temporary?

It depends on what’s causing them. Some floaters may come and go, but if your floaters are related to ongoing issues in your eyes like retinopathy or glaucoma, they may linger much longer or be present for months or years. Generally, most floaters become less visible over time.

When should you be concerned about eye floaters?

You should always report new or worsening floaters to your eye doctor, especially if they’re accompanied by flashes of light. There are several factors to consider that determine how alarmed you should be if floaters develop in your vision.

When you have diabetes, you should always report the presence of floaters to your eye doctor. Even if you have diagnosed eye complications, and you’ve experienced floaters before, the sudden development of new floaters could be a sign of a new issue or the worsening of an existing issue.

You should also contact your eye doctor immediately if your floaters are accompanied by flashes of light, seeing shadows in your peripheral (side) vision or noticing that part of your vision seems like it is covered by a grey curtain. A key takeaway according to the AAO, is that flashes of light could mean you’ve experienced a retinal tear or a detached retina, which can threaten your vision and require immediate treatment.

How are eye floaters treated?

Most floaters don’t require treatment unless they seriously interfere with your vision. While floaters can be irritating, most people will not receive treatment for floaters unless they become a major problem with their ability to see.

For some, you can shift the floater out of your direct line of vision by moving your eyes up, down, then side-to-side. This can provide temporary relief by shifting its position in your vision.

There are two main treatments available for floaters: 

• Vitrectomy: Surgery on the retina that removes the vitreous gel causing a floater. Typically considered for people with severe, vision-obstructing floaters.
• YAG vitreolysis: A laser treatment that breaks the floater into smaller, less noticeable pieces and can move them further out of your line of sight. Typically considered for people who want a less invasive option than surgery.

The risks associated with either of these treatments are serious enough that most eye doctors may not recommend treating floaters. 

Instead, you can reduce the development of floaters by focusing on the treatment of other existing eye conditions with your eye doctor and improving your blood sugar levels with support from your healthcare team.

If your eye doctor recommends treatment, don’t delay. The sooner you receive treatment, the higher your chances are for improving and saving your vision. 

Diabetes complications can be scary to talk or even think about, but they can happen to anyone living with diabetes. Experiencing floaters or other diabetes complications, and ready to get the help you deserve, without the shame? Check out our complications playbook here.