loud popping sound in right ear, flash of light, major pain in side of head On occassion, at least once, sometimes twice a month or more I experience something that worries me. This usually happens when I get very close to dozing off to sleep and there are no lights on. I hear a very loud pop in my right ear, immediately followed by a flash of light in my eyes and a very sharp pain that is focused in my head right in front of my right ear. My heart will start racing because I am startled by this. I then have a ringing sound in my ears for a few minutes. I have been going through this for several years and it seems to be getting worse. Should I be really concerned about this? I am male, 47 years of age. I do smoke but have always been in good health aside from what I have described above.