Most of these dots and threads are called floaters— and they're generally harmless. However, if you had a recent eye injury or an impact to the eye, see a new onset of them or see a lot of them, and/or they're accompanied by flashes of light, please call us to make an emergency eye appointment with our eye doctor. Sometimes these floaters may indicate retinal detachment, which is a serious eye problem that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated early on.