For those who see flashes and floaters

[MinimedPumper07]

Can you tell me what exactly a flash of light that can cause retinal detachment looks like? Lately I have seen lots of floaters and every once in a while in the corner of my eye I will see a dot of light and it goes away after a second. Is this a flash of light or would a flash be a very big constant thing that keeps happening?

[lgvincent]

Since I was diagnosed with Retionoschisis several years ago, I get some flashes. For me, everything just goes white for a moment. Sometimes, I'll see a little gold, like a flash, before everything goes white. Sometimes, everything will go white, then black, then white, then my vision returns. Basically, though, the white is what I see with flashes. For me, it covers my entire field of vision but I don't know if it is that way for everyone or not. They come and go. I don't get them on a regular basis and don't know what causes them.

Before I was diagnosed, as far back as I remember, I've had the occasional "spot" that sort of looks like a comet moving through my field of vision. I don't know what those are, what they mean, or if that is something like what you may be seeing.

Have you seen someone about this?

[MinimedPumper07]

I had an eye picture done last month and the doc said nothing was wrong except for a bleeder. I also see so many floaters but I guess that is normal and I am just unlucky to see so many.

[MinimedPumper07]

another question, when you turn off the lights or are in a perfectly dark room, can you guys see little dots everywhere, like all different colors?

[xMenace]

Symptoms of detachement do not come and go. They remain 24/7. There will be a permanent hole in your vision.

Bleeding would be adding floaters to your vitreous. My eye is full of them now too.

Those colored lights are not your vision but your active brain. It's still active and trying to fill the void.

[Mich]

Retinal detachment didn't cause the flash of light for me. My retina detached 3 times, once on the nose side, once on the ear side and once behind the macula. Bless it's little heart. The first time was the most defined. It looked like a black veil (slightly see-through) over the inner third of my vision. They whisked me in immediately to fix it. The second time, it looked the same but on the outside of my eye and was smaller. The macula detachment just blurred everything.

Flashes? I've had flashes throughout this entire experience, but after procedures. After laser, I noticed that when I closed my eyes tightly, it briefly looked like someone was shining a spotlight across my eyelid, moving from one side to the other. They lessened as eye calmed down from the laser.

Now that I've been through so many procedures, I am convinced that when I begin to see the flashes it's a sign that my eye is healing. Perhaps more circulation? More oxygen? My bad-boy eye is the right one. My vision has improved to nearly 100% in that eye, the only hold-up to complete healing seems to be that it is full of silicone oil (to keep the center of my retina pushed back so it could heal) which refracts differently. If I cover my left eye, I can even read with that eye (corrected with a #5 lens.) I see a little lower and to the left of my left eye. I am looking forward to removal of the oil and hopefully getting back to normal.

My idea on the "flashes" is strictly my own, based on my observations mind you. Anyone else have experience here?

Mich

[MinimedPumper07]

menace whats your current conditioin? why do you see so many floaters?

[peej07]

My flashes are described by my doc like this. Think of a bucket of water and when you move that bucket it takes a brief moment for the water inside to catch up. It you apply that to your eye when I move my eye quickly it takes a brief moment for the vit gel to catch up with the movement and the "slosh" type action causes it to pull on the retina causing a flash. It kinda scares me a bit because I enjoy activities that require rapid eye movements as well as bouncing around (running,atv racing,jetski,snow skiing,mountain biking). This has put a damper on my summer rec.

[xMenace]

menace whats your current conditioin? why do you see so many floaters?

I had a little bleeder on Nov 9th. I'm not sure if it's done or if it's existing blood forming strands. If it is still bleeding, it's not much at all. My optho is away this week and the on call one won't see me.

[Gabby123]

I HAVE A RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION AND GO TO A RETINAL SPECIALIST. THEY JUST PUT ME ON A BLOOD THINNER FOR THIS A MONTH AGO. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE SEEN SOME BRIGHT SKINNY FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT ALMOST LIKE IT COMES FROM THE BACK OF MY EYE .IT SEEMS LIKE IT GOES OVER MY HEAD AND THEN IT IS GONE. I GO BACK TO THE dOC THIS MORNING SO WE WILL SEE. BY THE WAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN OVER 9 A1C AND ONLY FOR A FEW MONTHS. I OTHER THAN THAT HAVE BEEN 6.2 OR 5.7 NOW SO DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE HIGH A1C TO GET EYE DAMAGE. DOCTOR TOLD ME IT IS JUST CAUSED BY DIABETES.

[Gabby123]

I saw my Retina Specialist and he said that flash of white or bright light was vascular. I don't think I want to know anymore than that.

[Andy_nut]

Mimed

I have exactly the same symptoms and am seeing the eye hospital about it tomorrow. It is like a tiny white dot on the very edge of my vision. Mainly in dark environments. I am trying not to worry but I cant help myself.

Will update you tomorrow :)

Andy

[Andy_nut]

UPDATE

I am fine, they checked out my eyes and I have neither flashers or floaters, and no retinal tears or damage

WOO HOO! Time to just live with it :)

[xMenace]

Great news :D