Have you ever observed the floaty things in your eye when you stare at something? Science explains

Ever noticed some tiny worm-like shapes or transparent blobs in your visual field? These mysterious things will disappear when you try to focus on them and may reappear right when you start staring at something else.

Are they any parasites? Don't worry, it isn't just you who observed those strange things but every one of us and these are not parasites. These are called floaters. Though sounds crazy, they are technically called as "muscae volitantes", which translates to flying flies in Latin.


The annoying optical illusions are formed in certain circumstances in the parts of the eye. These floaters get inside your eyeball and cast the shadow on the retina.

So, how are these floaters formed? Floaters are not foreign materials. They are tiny portions of tissue, red blood cells, or protein that are present in the gel called Vitreous humour (A clear gel-like fluid that fills the space between retina and lens). As the movements of the floaters are controlled by Vitreous humour, they move along with this viscous liquid as the eyeball moves.

If you want to have a better look at these floaters, try to glance at a clear and uniform background like the black screen of a monitor, clear sky. The below video clearly demonstrates how these floaters are formed.