How Common are Eye Floaters?

Almost everyone sees at least some eye floaters by age 70. As we get older, our likelihood of developing them increases greatly. By age 50, around 40% of the population has reported seeing at least a floater in their vision, whereas by age 60 this increases to 70%.

Eye floaters are very uncommon in children 16 and younger, although certain conditions can cause them.

Eye floaters are a leading cause of ophthalmologist visits in the US and Europe.

Go back to What are Eye Floaters? or read Affected Parts of the Eye

4 Comments By natasha - 2011-10-22 im 13 and had floaters since i was 5 is that normal? By John - 2011-07-23 What your article says is very wrong and might worry people unnecessarily. I have had floaters all my life. Most people have floaters from birth, they are just broken off embryonic blood vessels. What happens when you get old is another matter. By Sheila Best Ms - 2011-07-09 I get a lot of floaters, why is this, and just had one now, they always take 30 mins to go. By Sheila - 2011-07-09 I am 49 going on 50, how common is it for people of my age, getting eye floaters?

Add a Comment