Seeing Flashes of Light
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Dec 3, 2023
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Flashes or flickering lights in vision
Flickering or flashes of light even when you are in a dark room
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With an easy 3-min questionnaire , Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
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- Flashes of light in vision
- Seeing flashes of light
- Light flashes in vision
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Flashes of light can be tiny or cover part of the vision. These may be intermittent or constant. They can sometimes be a sign of a retinal detachment and should be evaluated by an eye doctor.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Seeing flashes of light
Possible Causes
Generally, Seeing flashes of light can be related to:
- Cataracts
Degeneration of the lens inside the eye causes it to become opaque. As a result, lights appear glaring and vision becomes blurred. In older adults, cataracts are usually caused by aging. In children, however, they may be due to genetic conditions, drugs, or viral infections while in the womb.
- Migraine
A type of headache that typically presents as throbbing, pulsating pain on one side of the head, sometimes with associated nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Sometimes, sensory disturbances, such as vision changes (seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines), can occur before the headache. The pain may worsen on exposure to bright lights or loud noise. Triggers for migraine include stress, poor sleep, caffeine, and hormonal changes in women.
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes vision loss in patients with diabetes due to damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Your retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of your eyes and is responsible for turning the light signals your eyes receive into images in your brain. These damaged vessels in the retina result in blurred vision or even vision loss.
- Anemia
Pathologic Myopia
- Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Retinitis pigmentosa
- Severe Myopia
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Seeing flashes of light may be related to these serious diseases:
- Retinal Detachment
An eye condition causing holes in vision when looking at objects. It is due to the retina (sensing layer of the eye) peeling off, usually because of aging, eye injury, or diabetes.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you see flickering or flashes of light in the dark?
- How does seeing flashes of light affect your daily life?
- Have you experienced flashes of light before?
- Do you see expanding spots of light that disappear after 15-30 minutes?
- Do you see jagged light spots, like a saw's teeth?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
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References
Flashes of light - American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-floaters-flashes
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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