What do flashes of light in the eye mean

Migraine aura may look like shimmering jagged lines or appear wavy, like heat waves. Migraine aura can appear even if you do not get any headache. Light rays that you may see around lamps, headlights or streetlights may be a symptom of cataract or an effect from an intraocular lens IOL or refractive surgery.

Many people will see occasional flashes of light, especially as they age. These occasional flashes are usually harmless, but you should discuss them with your ophthalmologist during an eye exam. However, if you suddenly start seeing repeated flashes of light, this could be a serious problem , especially if you also have cloudy floaters or vision changes.

Suddenly seeing new floaters and flashes could mean your retina has torn or detached. This is a very serious condition that your ophthalmologist must treat quickly to prevent blindness. There is no treatment for occasional flashes of light caused by vitreous changes from aging.

Occasional flashes do not cause any damage and most people get used to them after a little while. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention to prevent vision loss. If you have the following symptoms, get medical help right away:. A TIA can often be a warning sign of a stroke. If you notice any of the following symptoms, get medical attention as soon as possible:.

Your doctor can determine the cause of the light flashes based on the type, duration, and location of these visual disturbances. Flashes of light in your eye are typically a symptom of an issue related to your eyes or some other health condition. The treatment will depend on the underlying cause.

Some medications can cause vision-related side effects. In some cases, as with optic neuritis, treating the cause of the inflammation or infection can stop the light flashes. Flashes of light can be caused by a wide variety of issues. Some may be related to your eye and some may be a symptom of another type of condition, such as migraine, epilepsy, diabetes, or TIAs. To stay on top of your eye health, be sure to see your eye doctor for a checkup at least once a year.

Regular eye exams can help your doctor determine if there have been any changes to your vision or the health of your eyes. Photopsia is the presence of flashes of light or floaters in the vision. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary. Seeing Flashes Of Light Streaks of light that appear briefly in your visual field are known as flashers.

The following conditions can result in flashers: Aging - As you get older, the vitreous can shrink or change, causing flashes of light. Your likelihood of seeing flashes of light increases with age. Pressure on the retina - Rubbing your eyes too hard or getting hit in the eye can cause the vitreous to bump the retina, causing eye flashers.

Migraine — Vision disturbances can be caused by a migraine. Shimmering lights, dots, sparkles, and flashes of light may occur as part of a migraine. Are Eye Flashes Serious?

Retinal Tear or Detachment In rare cases, the vitreous can pull the retina hard enough to tear it, peeling it from its position at the back of your eye. Sometimes, flashes of light in the eye could signal a severe problem. The combination of sudden, repeated flashes with other visual disturbances could indicate vitreous detachment or a more severe condition.

Changes in the shape or position of the vitreous body are common and become more likely with age. A vitreous detachment can cause these flashes with floaters.

Vitreous detachment is a condition wherein the vitreous body breaks away from the retina. There are currently no treatments for vitreous detachment associated with aging, and people tend to adapt to the flashes and floaters eventually. Vitreous detachment is not usually serious. However, it could have severe consequences, such as a hole or tear in the retina, for some people. Tearing the retina can cause retinal detachment or bleeding in the eye.

The symptoms can also include blurred or darkened vision. Cryotherapy and laser therapy are common and effective treatments for retinal tears. For some people, however, the tear causes no symptoms and requires no treatment. Eye trauma can also cause flashes in the corner of the eye. Trauma can put pressure on the retina, causing flashes. Symptoms of eye trauma might disappear immediately and require no treatment. However, a person should contact a doctor immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms:.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis is a virus that affects the retinas. It can cause floaters with blurred vision that may lead to vision loss in one eye. Without treatment, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus retinitis can spread to both eyes.

The virus can also cause permanent retinal damage, resulting in blindness. Treatments for cytomegalovirus retinitis include laser eye surgery and antiviral medications, such as ganciclovir Cytovene.