You optometrist will look into your eyes for an illness or damage to the vitreous or retina. Sudden floaters or flashes in the eye are often caused by a separation of the vitreous and the retina. In about 10% of cases, when this occurs the retina may have ripped of detached itself. In most cases, the retina is not ripped and your ophthalmologist will re-examine your eye at a later date.
