Floaters are spots or lines that seem to float in a person's field of vision. The affected person often sees these accompanied by flashes of light coming from the side of the eye. 

The clear jelly-like material that fills the eyeball is called vitreous. With normal aging, this gel may start to thicken and shrink. This may cause the gel to pull away from the internal lining of the eye. This condition is known as posterior vitreous detachment. While some parts of the gel inside the eye thicken, other parts of the gel will liquefy. Floaters form when small clumps of protein settle out as the vitreous breaks down. When light enters the eye, it hits these small particles before reaching the retina. This is what a person perceives as spots in front of the eye. 

Floaters are more common in people who are older or nearsighted. They also occur in people who have had cataract operations or laser surgery on the eye. Floaters can also follow inflammation inside the eye. 

When floaters occur, a person will sometimes have quick, arc-shaped flashes of light out of the corner of the eye. These are often described as lightning flashes. Flashes may occur off and on for several weeks or even months. However, they usually disappear with time. 

There are many Chinese herbal formula that are used to improve eyesight. It helps to treat poor vision, dry eyes, photophobia, red, irritated, and itchy eyes, excessive tearing and night blindness. Symptoms get worse with overuse of eyes. This kind of formula can be used to treat vitreous opacity (Floaters), glaucoma, cataracts, optic neuritis, retinitis, Sjogren's syndrome, myopia, and atrophy of optic nerve. Continue to read TCM Treatment for Open-angle Glaucoma.