Eye floaters—those drifting specks or squiggly lines—are usually harmless and common. They’re most visible against bright backgrounds. “Floaters are small shapes that seem to drift across your field of vision,” experts explain.

They often result from age-related changes in the eye’s vitreous gel. As it becomes more liquid with age, microscopic fibers clump and cast shadows on the retina. However, floaters can also signal serious issues like “eye infections, uveitis, or retinal tears.”

Some people are more prone to floaters, especially those who are nearsighted, older, diabetic, or have had cataract surgery.