Your doctor will look inside the eye for evidence of disease or damage to the vitreous or retina. The sudden onset of floaters or flashes is often due to a separation of the vitreous jelly from the retina. In most cases, the retina is not torn, and your doctor will examine your eye again at a later date. Your flashes are likely to go away on their own within a few days or weeks. It is therefore important to be examined by an ophthalmologist even if your flashes go away on their own.
Floaters tend to last longer than flashes.
In most cases, they diminish gradually over weeks or months. Often they do not go away completely. Most people learn to ignore them. Floaters, like flashes, may get better on their own even if a retinal tear or detachment is present. Again, you should be examined even if the floaters seem to be going away.