question about eyesight

Hello!

I just had an odd thing happening and wonder if it has happened to anyone else here. The past week or so I notice that randomly I start seeing flashes of light, sort of like electrical sparks, in my left eye. Specifically in the top left part, not in the middle so it doesn't affect my vision directly. I have always had perfect vision, no glasses or contacts. I'm 29 and in good health. Anybody else have this happen? Should I be concerned?

Thanks for all opinions! Kim

Hmm, Kim. Well, one thing is for sure, we need to find out.
We can't have those blue_eyes going bad!

When I searched for information about similar symptoms
for you, I found a thread about stress and migraines. Usually,
the sparks precede the migraines.

Others mentioned a fluctuation in blood pressure could be
causing the 'sparks'. You might have your blood pressure checked
to see if this might be the case, especially when the sparks occur.

Not sure if any of this helps, but maybe worth checking into the
blood pressure for certain.

Karen Marie

Hmmm....thanks Karen. I haven't had any problems with migraines, and I'm not getting headaches so I don't think that is it. The blood pressure thing is interesting, I haven't had any problems before but it is something to check on perhaps.

Kim

have you been checked for glucoma lately. my wife used to see those flashes all the time but not as much now since she had both eye operated on.

Herbie.....I guess at 29 I wasn't thinking that would be a concern. However, you never know. It happened again when I woke up this morning. I think I am going to ask for an eye doctor reference today from my labmates. Right now it is just annoying me, but I'm thinking it would be good to get it checked out.

Thanks, Kim

i have those from time to time and i went to the doctor. are you also seeing tiny floating things? it kind of looks like you have a hair in your eye or something that small, but when you rub it, it's still there? if so, those are called floaters and the flash of light you are seeing is the floater still connected by a tiny strand. once the floater breaks free, the flashes stop and the floater eventually moves off and away from your line of vision. i probably didn't explain this too well, but your eye doctor can explain it perfectly.

Once or twice a year I have a halo effect in my vision. It starts as a small circle and gradually gets larger. My vision is somewhat hazy "around the edges," with sparks during this time. It usually last about 20 minutes. I figure it is some sort of migraine. If yours is happening frequently I'd sure have it checked out.

kim - i jut rechecked with my wife and i wa wrong. she says that when she first started getting those flashes they looked jaggered at the edges and that the flashes would seem to go from one side of her eye to the other. her eye doctor sid it ws a form of migrane. but i would still go and check with an good eye dr.

I also have had this experience. But mine has been when I've looked outside and caught the bright sun reflecting off of something shiney. It is so annoying, but it seems to pass in 20-30 minutes. I did ask my doctor about it years ago and he wasn't concerned.....but did mention if it should happen often then come back in.

Kim, not to be an alarmist, but your symptoms match Robert's a few years ago. He knew from his father's history to be concerned about a detaching retina. Robert had three small tears in the retina, which the opthamoligist repaired with cryo surgery the same day he diagnosed the problem. Hope you are able to find out what's going on with your vision as soon as possible!
Patricia


This message was edited Feb 9, 2007 9:25 AM

I was about to post the same thing as Patricia.. My dad had those lights in his eyes, and it turned out to be a detached retina. His hasn't needed surgery yet, but it's something to talk to an opthamologist about, just in case.

blue_eyes, would strongly recommend that you see the doctor. There are many issues that could cause eye changes. My eye flash is probably different than yours., so please get those names from folks that you know.

Agreeing with Patricia, Marilyn_TX, and MarciaGeiger - our opthamologist told DH after his cataract surgery that if he started seeing "lightning flashes" to call her immediately, since this was a possible symptom of a detached (or detaching) retina. You definitely want to keep those blue eyes healthy!

Thanks everyone....got an appointment for Tuesday afternoon....we'll see what they say about it.

:) Kim

Hi Kim,

I hope it is nothing serious.

I have what my eye doctor says are occular migraines. She described them as looking like a moving kaleidoscope in the corner of the eye. I get them occasionally and still do not know what causes them. I have never had a migraine headache - knock on wood. They last 15-20 minutes then go away.

Glad you got an appointment. Let us know how you come out.

Elsie....they suggested that to me as well. However, I also don't have any headaches or pain. This seems to come and go randomly many times throughout the day. More frequently when I change rooms or from low light to high light. I described it to the doctor's office as 'sparkling' or 'crackling of light' in the top left part of my eye. I don't think it is serious but it is annoying and increasing in frequency, so I'll be glad to find out what is causing it and hopefully something can be done about it.

Kim

Kim, I have found that bright lights can bring this on for me. I don't have any pain either - I have felt a little - I'll say dizzy but it's really not dizzy. The kaleidoscope description came from my eye doctor who has had occular migraines. I thought it described mine quite well. Now I can't remember how I originally described them.

The 'crystals', 'sparkles' or empty spots often precede a migraine or what an ER Doc called a "migraine equivalent" . They seem to last 15 to 20 minutes as Elsie said but do not have to go hand in hand with the headache, nausea, barfing or speech difficulty associated with a nasty migraine. Causes and cures are kinda hard to figure out. I hope your Dr. appt. will turn up some good results.