Floaters and Flashes: When Should You Call the Eye Doctor the Same Day? dilated eye exam · eye emergencies · flashes · floaters · posterior vitreous detachment · retinal detachment · retinal tear · Oct 09, 2026 A few old floaters are normal. A sudden burst of new ones, new flashes of light, or a shadow over your vision can mean a retinal tear, and that needs a same-day exam.