How many times do you see those strange-looking things forming in front of your eyes after you rub them? Or if you open your eyes after tightly closing them for a few minutes, you see dots or worm-like patterns in your eyes. Have you ever googled for "what are those things that float in your eye"? Are you the only one seeing them? So we have an answer and an explanation for this question for your curious minds. These specks, dots or colourful worms or lines are called floaters. The eye floaters are experienced by almost 70 percent of the people in this world. They are also referred to as sparkles.

What Are These Floaters?

Floaters are mainly proteins that are clumped together. An eye is made up of a gel-like substance known as the vitreous humour. The vitreous humour maintains the roundness of an eye. The microscopic fibres within this gel clump together and form shadows on your retina. These shadows are called floaters. The fluid is made up of water and contains some other proteins too. Floaters or spots are formed when tiny pieces of the gel break loose within the back portion of the eye. They are not a cause of alarm. As we age, the vitreous begins to dissolve and form into a liquid.

Floaters or the spots are formed when your eye and the vitreous gel inside your eye moves, creating an impression that they are moving. So while you try to focus on them, they disappear. They may appear differently for different people. The floaters also appear due to old age, as the vitreous gel shrinks. Contact Lens Can Cause Blindness! 8 Hygiene Tips To Keep Your Contacts Clean.

Different types of these structures are also called as flashes. It is more likely to happen as you get older. As the vitreous pulls away from the retina, you see a flash of light in the eyes. These are small sparkles.

When do we See Them?

Floaters appear when we gaze at something too bright. So even if you try looking at the sun and then look somewhere else, you will see these objects in your eyes. Often when you rub your eyes too hard, these worm-like lines will be seen in front of your retina. Eye Care For Winters: Some Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes in The Cold Season.

So the next time you see a floater or a flash you will know what it is. Also, don't forget to share your bit about these weird structures because almost everyone experiences them. And don't be alarmed; it is quite normal to see floaters and flashes in front of your eyes.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 07, 2019 07:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).