Eye floaters are a common yet often misunderstood visual phenomenon. Whether they appear as squiggly lines, specks, or cobwebs drifting across your vision, they can be concerning at first glance.

For most people, these shadowy figures—known as eye floaters—are a harmless visual quirk. However, for those dealing with anxiety, floaters can become a significant source of distress.

The authors propose that floaters are usually diffraction patterns cast on the retina by red blood cells They are the spots that most people occasionally see before their eyes.