A man who was 'hours away from losing his vision' is urging people not to dismiss tiny specks or threads floating across their eyesight, as they could indicate a serious underlying condition. Eye floaters are something most people have encountered, particularly when looking at a bright sky or a white wall.

However, while they are frequently harmless and easily overlooked, they can sometimes indicate the need for immediate medical attention. Officially termed muscae volitantes, Latin for 'flying flies', floaters are triggered by changes occurring deep within the eye.

The vitreous - the gel-like substance filling the eyeball - is completely transparent at birth and firmly attached to the retina. However, as people age, it progressively liquefies and starts to sag, creating clumps and strands which cast subtle shadows on the retina, appearing as the floaters people observe.

Age is the primary cause, while short-sightedness can accelerate the process. Prior eye surgery, such as cataract removal, can also contribute, as can inflammation within the eye and, in uncommon cases, bleeding into the vitreous stemming from conditions such as diabetes.

For most people, floaters are an irritation rather than a threat. However, there are situations where they require urgent medical attention.

A sudden surge of new floaters, flashing lights in peripheral vision or the sensation of a grey curtain advancing across your field of view are all warning signs. These symptoms can indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which, without treatment, can result in permanent sight loss. It is a warning that Mr Amir Hamid, a cataract and refractive surgeon who has carried out more than 10,000 operations, understands intimately, reports the Mirror.

The Chief Medical Officer of eye hospital group Optegra found himself on the receiving end of medical care after developing the very condition he has dedicated his career to treating. Mr Hamid underwent an emergency procedure for a detached retina following the appearance of a blind spot in his right eye, a symptom he immediately recognised.

"I was exercising when I noticed a black patch in my field of vision," he said. "Because I was a very high myope, very short-sighted, I knew immediately, being an eye doctor myself, that this was the sign of a retinal detachment.

"Fortunately for me, I've got a very good contacts list, so I phoned Mr Wong at OCL Vision, who I know is an excellent surgeon, and I got to see him straight away the same day. I'm a surgeon - I fix things. So my first thought was I need to find someone to fix this for me and who is the best guy to do it? My sight is really important to me. It's my livelihood, it's how I support my family."

Mr Chien Wong, Director and Partner at OCL Vision, who performed the operation, said Mr Hamid had been mere hours away from losing his sight. "When another surgeon chooses me it means a lot," he said. "It's humbling and a privilege. Sight is such an important part of life but especially in a job like ours where people are putting their trust in you to carry out delicate and complex operations."

The experience has also transformed the way Mr Hamid relates to his own patients. He explained: "It adds a level of insight and empathy. Patients find it reassuring that you can share a period in your life where you were vulnerable, just as they are. It has enriched me as a doctor."

He is now encouraging anyone who experiences sudden alterations to their vision not to delay. "Any situation where you have a rapid onset of visual impairment, you need to be seen immediately," he said. "Please don't be hesitant to seek that help straight away."