Which condition can cause floaters or flashes of light in the vision?

Floaters and flashes of light in the vision are primarily indicative of vitreous detachment. The vitreous humor is the gel-like substance that fills the eye and is attached to the retina. As people age, the vitreous can start to shrink and pull away from the retina, a process known as vitreous detachment. When this occurs, it can lead to the perception of floaters—small specks or cobwebs that seem to float in the field of vision—and flashes of light, which occur when the vitreous tugging on the retina stimulates it.

Other conditions listed, while they can affect vision, do not typically cause the specific symptoms of floaters or flashes of light. For example, dry eye syndrome primarily affects the surface of the eye and leads to discomfort, blurred vision, and redness, but it does not cause the same kind of visual phenomena. Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision and can lead to distortion or loss of vision but does not specifically cause floaters or flashes. Glaucoma is generally associated with increased intraocular pressure and can lead to peripheral vision loss rather than floaters or flashes. Thus, vitreous detachment is the condition most directly associated with these visual disturbances.