Thread: Flashes in peripheral vision in one eye?

I had a similar experience years ago with 'flashing'.
Doctor sent me straight off to eye surgeon as it can be a sympton of a torn retina.
Fortunately mine wasnt a tear and settled down itself.
However both doc & surgeon were adamant that if it happened again to not delay in going back.
I tend to avoid doctors but hey eyesight is important.

edit/ try googling, 'torn retina flashing lights'

See a doctor real soon.
Any eye problems should be taken seriously.

Yes get yourself to a doctor Cliff. An ex-girlfriend's old man had that and it was a detached retina. He was too late getting something done about it and now has a glass eye. Not kidding, mate, go get it checked out TODAY!!

Ta, no chance of seeing a Doc up here TODAY.
I'll see what I can arrange down in Cairns tomorrow.

Hi Cliff,
Have it checked out. The gel that fills the cavity of the eye becomes more like liquid and mobile with age, it can pull away off the inner lining (retina) of the eye, triggering a flash sensation, this is quite harmless, however, if there happens to be a weak spot in the retina close by, a tear can result and this can lead to a retinal detachment, not good. Generally, the flashes can occur in each eyes at different times, if you get the same symptoms later in the other eye, have it checked out, don't assume there is no detachment. If there's no doctor, see an optometrist.
Zelk

Gedday Cliff,
same thing happened to me a couple of months ago (when I blinked). Freaked me out. Went to the Doc & then a specialist. It was what Zelk said. The flash has gone, but I still can't tell if they are mozzies buzzing around or just 'floaties'.
I tried blinking without closing my eyes to see if I could project the light so I wouldn't need a torch. Couldn't quite perfect the tecnique!
Ernie.
P.S. Not sure if I liked the explanation "It's an age thing!"

Beauty, thanks blokes.

Spoke to Dr's receptionist, they can give a referral but they said to ring all the ophthalmologists first & find out which one can see me first.
The first one I rang said something similar to what zelk just said.
They also said to get to an optometrists with a slit lamp & have them inspect the retina & if it looks like it is damaged or coming away, they will get me into an ophthalmologists as an emergency patient to have laser surgery.

I've got an appointment at Atherton at 1:50 today.

Originally Posted by Ernie47

Gedday Cliff,
same thing happened to me a couple of months ago (when I blinked). Freaked me out. Went to the Doc & then a specialist. It was what Zelk said. The flash has gone, but I still can't tell if they are mozzies buzzing around or just 'floaties'.
I tried blinking without closing my eyes to see if I could project the light so I wouldn't need a torch. Couldn't quite perfect the tecnique!
Ernie.
P.S. Not sure if I liked the explanation "It's an age thing!"

Ernie,
The mozzies you describe are usually floaters that occur with the flashes relating to the Posterior Vitreous Detachment condition, they are no doubt annoying and unfortunately there is no treatment, you have to learn to ignore them. A word of warning, should the number floaters increase in number and size, go and get it checked out immediately.
Zelk

Thanks Zelk,
the Specialist also said if you see lots of flashes all over, it could be a sign of bleeding so get it checked NOW!!
Ernie.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Beauty, thanks blokes.

I've got an appointment at Atherton at 1:50 today.

Good man, good luck!

All clear.

Just getting old he says....

He says the gel in the eye shrinks & can move around & as it pulls away from the retina, it causes a sensation that is perceived as a flash of light.

This is what a couple of you blokes said already so I tend to believe him.

I had drops put in my eyes at about 2:15 yesterday day & I was finding it hard to see last night.... this morning, they are still a bit sensitive to bright light...

Maybe I should go back to bed.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Maybe I should go back to bed.

Maybe you should stay in bed. Keep from jiggling your eyeball. It's a known scientific fact that you only get older when you are out of bed. In bed, time stands still. Stave off old age--be a slugabed.

Bob, does your tongue flash?

I'm blind in one eye (courtesy of a knife fight), and as a ten year ritual I head upto the Sydney Eye hospital to see (so to speak) what can be done about it.

Last time I went, about 10 years ago, they gave me this dye stuff which fully dilates the pupil until it is the size of the iris. This lets them in to have a look around, but there are a couple of side effects. One, it is almost unbearable to be out in sunlight but two and more importantly, it makes your wee a bright (very bright) incandescent yellow. So that afternoon, after the tests I went up to Ourimbah to catch up with a mate at the Tall Timbers, and sadly he was in having a wizz with me, when out come this flouro wee. Well, being the discrete and responsible friend he immediately walked out into the pub and yelled out that everyone had to watch me take a leak. For the rest of the night I had a crowd of onlookers everytime I took a leak, by the end of the night I think there were a couple of girls in checking things out as well - all very Australian really!!