Occasionally, during sudden movements such as quick brisk head turns, the vitreous “tugs” or pulls on the retina. This action results in the patient to experience a “flash” of light in the corner of their vision. As time goes by, the vitreous would eventually detach from the retinal interface.
As the vitreous changes and separates from the retina, there can be some temporary pulling on the retina, which can also manifest as a quick flash of light. These generally occur in the peripheral vision, frequently when moving the eye from one side to another.
Stroke. Bleeding inside the brain can also cause flashes of light. Other stroke symptoms include numbness, weakness, slurred speech, or headache. This is a medical emergency.
Seeing occasional flashing lights in your eyes usually isn't an issue. But repeated flashes in the forms of bright spots, streaks of lightening, or shooting stars in the corner of your eye can indicate a serious medical condition.
Flashes of light you see even when you're not looking at light have a medical name — photopsias. They're kind of like eye floaters, which have a medical name, too — myodesopsias. You can experience floaters and flashes together or on their own.
Another set of symptoms—unexplained speech, vision or hearing problems—can occur when a tumor grows near the areas of the brain that control these functions. A tumor growing near the visual pathways can cause loss of peripheral vision on one side or cause someone to see flashing lights.
Yes, multiple sclerosis can cause a person to see flashing lights — bright spots, or points of light in the field of vision, often referred to as phosphenes. Phosphenes in MS can last for a few seconds or be permanent, and are generally more noticeable in the dark.
Most flashes happen when the vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks or changes, pulling on the retina (the light sensitive lining of the eye). Flashes of light can also happen if you're hit in the eye or rub your eyes too hard. In both cases, the flashes are caused by physical force on the retina.
Anxiety commonly leads to various vision distortions.
Elevated adrenaline levels puts pressure on the eyes and can result in blurred vision. Visual irregularities like seeing stars, shadows or flashing spots can occur as a result of anxiety onset.
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is the most common cause of floaters and flashing lights. It starts happening between the ages of 50 and 70. It is caused by the gel-like substance in the eyes (known as vitreous) partially liquifying and shrinking with age.
One lesser-known symptom of high blood pressure is the occurrence of flashing lights in the eyes, also called “floaters.” These small specks or spots appear to float across your field of vision and can be a sign that the condition is affecting the blood vessels in your eyes.
Dehydration, stress, lack of sleep, caffeine and certain foods are typical triggers for ocular migraines. When someone describes their flash stemming from only one eye and it is a quick flash usually only seen in the dark almost like a flash from a camera then I often attribute this to the vitreous gel.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke.
Flashes are brief sparkles or lightning streaks that are easiest to see when your eyes are closed. They often appear at the edges of your visual field. Floaters and flashes don't always mean that you will have a retinal detachment. But they may be a warning sign, so it's best to be checked by a doctor right away.
The flashes of light also have a medical name — photopsias. You can experience floaters and flashes together or on their own. Both floaters and flashes happen when the vitreous or vitreous humor, lifts up from the surface and pulls on the retina, creating tension.
These small lights are usually phosphenes, a visual phenomenon caused by mechanical stimuli resulting in pressure or tension on the eye when the eyelids are closed.
The caption of this image reads: Cervical instability can have many negative effects on the eye including the interruption of vision as seen in eye floaters.
You may see what appears to be flashing lights or lightening streaks. They are usually seen at night or in low light conditions. They may last for a few seconds or several minutes. They can occur off and on for several weeks or months.
How to Treat Flashes of Light. Possible treatments include: Surgery to reattach your retina may be used for a detached retina. Cryotherapy (freezing treatment) or laser repair may be done for small retinal tears or retinal holes.
Vision Problems
The first symptom of MS for many people. Optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica, blurred vision, poor contrast or color vision, and pain on eye movement can be frightening — and should be evaluated promptly.
Here's where MS (typically) starts
Although a number of MS symptoms can appear early on, two stand out as occurring more often than others: Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache.
Other symptoms of brain tumors include severe nausea, vomiting, seizures, personality changes, difficulties with speech, muscle weakness, vision or hearing loss, and problems with learning or memory. Early detection of brain tumors requires understanding and recognition of the above symptoms.