Seeing Flashes of Light

About 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:

• 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.

• 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.

• Anemia

  Anemia is a disorder where the body's tissues don't receive enough oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells. There are several types of anemia with various causes, the most common being iron-deficiency anemia, which results from insufficient iron. Iron is needed to produce hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen.

• Pathologic Myopia
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• 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:

• Have you experienced any flashing lights or sudden bright flashes?
• How often do you experience flashing lights or sudden bright flashes?
• How often do you experience flashing lights or sudden bright flashes?
• Do you see expanding spots of light that disappear after 15-30 minutes?
• Do you see jagged light spots, like a saw's teeth?

Find Similar Symptoms

References

• Flashes of light - American Academy of Ophthalmology

  https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-floaters-flashes