Floaters and Flashes
Many patients describes seeing "specks" or "strings" floating in their vision. They are usually most noticeable when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. Floaters are actually small clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. These clumps cast shadows onto your retina which you see. As we age, the vitreous starts to shrink. This causes the vitreous to pull away from the wall of the eye, forming clumps or strands. This is called a posterior vitreous detachment or PVD and is most common in people who are nearsighted, have undergone cataract surgery, or have have had inflammation inside the eye. Sometimes, as the vitreous pulls on the retina you may see flashing lights. If the vitreous pulls hard enough it can tear the retina. A tear in the retina is always serious because it can lead to a retinal detachment. You should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible with the onset of new floaters and or flashing lights.

 

Dry Eye
Dry eye is a condition where not enough tears are produced to keep the eye comfortable.
Tears are constantly produced to lubricate the eye. Symptoms of dry eye include, burning/stinging, scratchy feeling or feeling something is in the eye, irritation from wind/cold/contact lenses, excess tearing. Excess tearing sounds absurd with dry eyes, but if not enough normal lubrication is produced the eye can become irritated. When irritated, the eye responds by producing large amounts of tears, which can run out of the eye. Dry eye is most commonly treated by using eye drops called artificial tears. These help by supplementing the natural tears produced by the eye. They are available without a prescription.