Flashes and floaters are a very common complaint in the eye. If you think of your eye as a camera, the retina is analogous to the Kodak film. The retina lines the inside wall of the eye, like wallpaper. There is vitreous gel in front of the retina that can undergo aging changes that may cause flashes and floaters. Most of the time, these flashes and floaters are harmless and can be followed. However, sometimes, these flashes and floaters are associated with a retinal tear, or a retinal detachment. These are potentially blinding problems and need prompt treatments. For this reason, flashes and floaters need to be promptly evaluated by an eye care specialist.