Vision builder
How I see
Layers on: 1
When did it start
Floaters are not the only thing that gets in the way. Shimmer on a white page, glowing dots in the sky, smeared letters, starbursts around headlights — switch on layers and tune them until the picture looks like yours. An explanation and a note for your doctor appear below.
The model is simplified: real effects depend on lighting, pupil size and where you look. Visual snow and blue-field sparkles are most visible against an even background, which is why a white page is the default.
Some of the “shimmer” is normal
Glowing dots against a bright sky are white blood cells in the capillaries of your retina. Almost everyone sees them once they look. What matters is not the dots but a sudden change.
Optics or nervous system
Astigmatism, haze and halos come from the cornea and lens — glasses, drops or surgery can fix them. Visual snow and trails come from how the brain processes the signal, and glasses do not change them.
Blink and check
If the picture clears after a blink, the tear film is to blame. If double vision disappears when you cover one eye, the problem is how the eyes work together, not the optics of one eye.
What is urgent
Sudden flashes, a shadow or curtain, a spot in the centre, bent straight lines, or a sharp loss of clarity mean you should see an eye doctor the same day.
Is your main problem drifting shadows? There is a separate, more detailed builder for them.