What Do Flashing Lights In My Eyes Mean?

What do flashing lights in my eyes mean?

by Men's Reporter Team

Flashing lights in your eyes can be a sign of various problems. Such flashes are also known as: photopsiawhich can be a symptom of a variety of illnesses, including retinal detachment or retinal tear, where the light-sensing retina separates from the back of the eye.

There is no need to be overly concerned if you experience occasional flashes. But if it persists, or if you notice things like jagged lightning strikes or shooting stars, you should seek medical attention as it can pose a serious threat to your vision.

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symptoms

If you have photopsia, you may experience the following symptoms:

lightning light flickering star

What causes flashes?

Anything that stretches the retina can have this effect. This is usually a result of aging, and a posterior vitreous detachment causes the vitreous jelly to shrink and peel away from the back of the eye. However, in some cases, this may be a sign of a serious retinal detachment or tear. In some cases, it can also be a sign of a migraine.

cause

Light flashes are commonly caused by the following and often involve interaction with the retina:

Posterior vitreous detachment: This occurs when the jelly in your eye begins to shrink as you age. It can stretch the light-sensitive retina and cause flashes. Retinal detachment or tear: This can occur when fluid leaks behind the retina. Scar tissue on the retina pulls on the area, causing flashes of light. The retina can become detached from the back of the eye. Or, if there is a small tear in the retina, fluid can seep in and collect behind the retina. Diabetes-related blood in the eye due to diabetic retinopathy: Blood leaking from blood vessels can cause scarring on the retina, causing it to pull, causing light to shine through and even detachment. Migraine-related flashes of light: This can occur when the brain’s visual cortex is activated during an attack. Transient ischemic attack: Blood flow in the brain is temporarily blocked. Seizure: This is an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Damaged optic nerve: This nerve carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Can dehydration cause eye blinking?

Flashing lights can be a symptom of a migraine. And dehydration, lack of sleep, and stress are all migraine triggers.

medicine

Some drugs are associated with flashes of light. Such drugs include:

Digoxin: This heart drug can cause flickering or blinking lights or other vision problems in some people.
Chloroquine and Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine): These drugs treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune diseases. Sometimes it can cause photopsia.

process

Occasional flashes of light do not require treatment. However, if you see frequent flashing lights, you should consult an eye doctor who can treat the underlying disease that is causing it.

Possible treatments include:

For retinal detachment, surgery may be performed to reattach the retina. Cryotherapy (cryotherapy) or laser repair may be used for small retinal tears or holes.
If you have scarring from diabetic retinopathy, treatment may include the use of lasers to address new blood vessels, eye surgery to remove scarring, or injections into the eye to prevent new blood vessels from forming. Masu.

Complications and risk factors

If you experience flashes of light, something may be affecting your retina. You may have a retinal detachment or tear. Both can threaten vision and require immediate attention.

Risk factors associated with light flashes include:

As we age, we may become more susceptible to posterior vitreous detachment, where the jelly inside the eye (vitreous) shrinks and separates from the retina. The flash you see here can be intermittent. However, if you suddenly start flashing, your retina may be torn.
Extreme nearsightedness (difficulty seeing far away without correction) can make you more susceptible to retinal detachment. Your risk increases if you have a family history of retinal detachment. Severe blows to the eye increase the risk. Glaucoma medications that make the pupil in the center of the eye smaller, such as Pilocar (pilocarpine), increase your risk. Eye surgeries such as cataract removal surgery and glaucoma drainage surgery increase the risk.

diagnosis

If flashes occur, your eye doctor should be able to perform a clinical examination to determine the underlying cause. Additionally, your ophthalmologist may perform an ultrasound to help detect posterior vitreous detachment or retinal detachment.

When should you see a health care provider?

Occasional flashing lights aren’t really anything to worry about, but some symptoms may require a visit to your eye doctor. Be sure to consult an ophthalmologist immediately in the following cases:

You suddenly experience a flash of light and notice that it is persistent. The flash is accompanied by an explosion of new floaters (you notice a string floating across your field of vision, or one giant floater; your side visibility suddenly decreases, or part of your field of vision is covered by curtains). (looks like it’s blocked).

summary

As we age, periodic flashes of light may be common due to posterior vitreous detachment. Other common causes of flashes include migraines, diabetes-related retinal scarring, retinal tears and retinal detachment.

Some drugs, such as digitalis and antimalarial drugs such as chloroquinoline and hydroxychloroquine, may be accompanied by flashing lights.

When treatment is needed, it usually involves getting to the root of the problem, such as retinal reattachment or retinal tear repair. If you notice sudden new flashes of light, new floaters, or decreased side vision, be sure to talk to your health care provider.

Written by Maxine Lipner

Mr. Lipner is a New York-based freelance health and medical writer who focuses on ophthalmology and oncology.

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