As such, any disturbance can be a cause for alarm. According to the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women s HealthSource some visual disturbances are harmless, but others require medical care. Following are some of the most commonly reported visual problems and their recommended treatments. Auras can take the form of lace or dot patterns, or can manifest as vertically split images that can make the world look like a Picasso painting. Auras can also look like flickering or zigzagging lights.
Eyes contain a jelly-like substance called the vitreous.
As we age, the vitreous liquefies, causing what looks like tiny hairs or specks in the field of vision. They are harmless and usually become less noticeable over time. The vitreous attaches to your retina the part of the eye that captures images in the back of the eye. If the vitreous collapses, it can sag and pull on the retina, posing a serious threat to vision. If you experience a sudden appearance of or increase in floaters, especially if they look like a cloud of spots or a spider web and are accompanied by light flashes, call an ophthalmologist immediately.