Can dry eyes cause floaters?

Have you ever noticed tiny spots, lines, or squiggly shapes drifting across your vision? These are called floaters, and they can be annoying, especially when you’re looking at something bright, like a white wall or the sky.

Many people with dry eyes also notice floaters and wonder if the two are connected. At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we often get asked, “Can dry eyes cause floaters?”

Let’s take a closer look at what floaters are, what causes them, how dry eyes might make them worse, and when to see an eye specialist.

Can dry eyes cause floaters?

Have you ever noticed tiny spots, lines, or squiggly shapes drifting across your vision? These are called floaters, and they can be annoying, especially when you’re looking at something bright, like a white wall or the sky.

Many people with dry eyes also notice floaters and wonder if the two are connected. At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we often get asked, “Can dry eyes cause floaters?”

Let’s take a closer look at what floaters are, what causes them, how dry eyes might make them worse, and when to see an eye specialist.

What are floaters?

Floaters are small shapes that move across your field of vision. They can look like:

• Black or grey dots
• Wavy lines or squiggles
• Cobweb-like shapes
• Tiny threads or spots

They move when your eyes move, and if you try to look directly at one, it often drifts away.

Floaters come from tiny clumps of gel inside your eye. This gel, called the vitreous, fills the space between your lens and retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye).

As you get older, the vitreous gel becomes thinner and starts to shrink. Small bits of the gel can clump together and cast shadows on your retina. Those shadows are what you see as floaters.

Can dry eyes cause floaters?

Dry eyes do not directly cause floaters, but they can make you more aware of them.

Here’s why:

When your eyes are dry, your tear film (the thin layer of moisture that covers your eyes) becomes uneven. This can make your vision blurry, hazy, or shimmering, and that can make floaters seem more noticeable.

Also, dry eyes can cause light sensitivity and eye strain, which make floaters feel more distracting or harder to ignore.

So while dry eyes don’t cause floaters to form, they can definitely make them more visible or more bothersome.

How can you tell the difference between floaters and dry eye symptoms?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you’re seeing floaters or if your eyes are just dry and blurry. Here’s how to spot the difference:

Floaters usually:

• Look like small dark dots, threads, or squiggly lines
• Move around when you move your eyes
• Don’t go away when you blink
• Are caused by tiny changes inside the eye
• Are more noticeable when looking at something bright, like a white wall or the sky

Dry eyes usually:

• Make your vision look blurry or hazy
• Cause a burning, stinging, or gritty feeling
• May make your eyes water more than usual
• Can feel better when you blink or use eye drops
• Are caused by lack of moisture on the eye’s surface

If your vision feels unclear and your eyes are sore or tired, you might have both floaters and dry eyes at the same time.

Why do dry eyes and floaters happen around the same time?

Both dry eyes and floaters become more common with age.

As we get older:

• Our eyes make fewer tears, leading to dryness.
• The vitreous gel inside our eyes starts to shrink, leading to floaters.

Other factors can make both problems worse, such as:

• Screen time– staring at screens reduces blinking, which makes your eyes dry.
• Dehydration– not drinking enough water can dry out your eyes and make vision less clear.
• Fatigue– tired eyes are more sensitive to floaters and dryness.
• Menopause– hormone changes can cause dry eyes and affect how your eyes feel.

So even though dry eyes don’t cause floaters, the two often show up together, especially in adults over 40.

When are floaters a sign of something serious?

Most floaters are harmless and just part of normal ageing. But sometimes, a sudden change in floaters can be a sign of a more serious eye problem, such as:

• Retinal tear or detachment– when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye.
• Vitreous detachment– when the gel inside your eye pulls away from the retina.
• Bleeding inside the eye– can cause dark spots or cloudiness.

You should see an eye doctor immediately if you notice:

• A sudden increase in floaters
• Flashes of light in your vision
• A dark shadow or curtain over part of your sight
• Sudden loss of vision

These could be signs of a retinal emergency that needs quick treatment.

How to ease dry eye symptoms if you have floaters

If you have both floaters and dry eyes, managing the dryness can make your vision more comfortable and make floaters less noticeable.

Here are some simple ways to help:

1. Use lubricating eye drops

Artificial tears add moisture and smooth your tear film. This can reduce blurriness and light sensitivity that make floaters more visible.

2. Blink more often

When using a computer or phone, remember to blink fully and regularly. Try the 20-20-20 rule, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

3. Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of water during the day to help your body, and your eyes, stay hydrated.

4. Rest your eyes

Tired eyes can make both dryness and floaters more noticeable. Try to rest your eyes between screen sessions.

5. Use a humidifier

Adding moisture to the air can stop your eyes from drying out, especially in winter or when using heating.

6. Eat omega-3 fatty acids

Foods like salmon, chia seeds, and walnuts may help improve tear quality and eye comfort.

When to see an eye specialist

If your eyes feel dry, sore, or gritty most of the time, or if you’ve noticed more floaters recently, it’s a good idea to book an eye check.

At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we can perform a full dry eye assessment to find out what’s causing your dryness and whether your floaters are normal or need attention.

We’ll check:

• How well your tears are working
• The health of your eyelid glands
• The surface of your eyes
• The back of your eyes to rule out any serious causes of floaters

Once we know the cause, we can make a personalised treatment plan to help you see more clearly and feel more comfortable.

Final thoughts

While dry eyes don’t directly cause floaters, they can make you more aware of them, and both conditions can affect how clearly you see.

Taking care of your eyes with proper hydration, rest, and treatment can help keep your vision comfortable and healthy.

If you’re in the Gosforth or Newcastle area, visit My Eye Clinic for expert help with dry eyes and floaters.

Take our dry eye suitability self-test today to find out how we can help you feel better and see clearly again.