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What Causes Light Flashes In The Eye?

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Posted on Mon, 6 Apr 2015
Question: I am having flashes of white light (like a firework or shooting start) occur in my eyes (has happened in both separately) when I enter a darker space. Also when I move my head. It occurred a few weeks ago, went away, and has returned in the opposite eye.
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Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You need to consult your doctor for examination of the eye.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care magic

I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an Ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question.

I reviewed your history.
It seems from the history that you are having sudden onset of flashes in one eye which went away and the same condition has appeared in the other eye.

Flashes of light usually occur in the problems involving the posterior part of the eye including the vitreous and retina. The conditions that need to be ruled out are posterior vitreous detachment and retinal conditions like retinal tear, retinitis...
Posterior vitreous detachment is an age related condition and it will resolve on its own and it does not requires treatment.
However we need to rule out other retinal conditions as these can be dangerous and can lead to retinal detachment. Hence all cases with the complaints of sudden onset of flashes of light require evaluation by ophthalmologist.
Your ophthalmologist will do simple test called as indirect ophthalmoscopy after dilating the pupil to examine the vitreous and retina.
You need to consult your ophthalmologist for this test.
Do write back to me after the examination so that I can advice you accordingly.

Hope I have answered your question and the information is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dadapeer K

Ophthalmologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 5709 Questions

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What Causes Light Flashes In The Eye?

Brief Answer: You need to consult your doctor for examination of the eye. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to Health care magic I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an Ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question. I reviewed your history. It seems from the history that you are having sudden onset of flashes in one eye which went away and the same condition has appeared in the other eye. Flashes of light usually occur in the problems involving the posterior part of the eye including the vitreous and retina. The conditions that need to be ruled out are posterior vitreous detachment and retinal conditions like retinal tear, retinitis... Posterior vitreous detachment is an age related condition and it will resolve on its own and it does not requires treatment. However we need to rule out other retinal conditions as these can be dangerous and can lead to retinal detachment. Hence all cases with the complaints of sudden onset of flashes of light require evaluation by ophthalmologist. Your ophthalmologist will do simple test called as indirect ophthalmoscopy after dilating the pupil to examine the vitreous and retina. You need to consult your ophthalmologist for this test. Do write back to me after the examination so that I can advice you accordingly. Hope I have answered your question and the information is helpful to you. Do write back to me for further questions. Thank you