3 year old says the sun is in his eyes in low light

Our 3 year old son was in his room screaming and crying because he was in trouble.  After a few minutes I went to his room to talk to him and he kept saying his head hurt.  I figured he got himself so worked up that he gave himself a headache.  He calmed down and came back to the dining table to eat his dinner.  He kept complaining of his head hurting for about half an hour and then he said it was all better and went off playing.  

He was jumping on daddy and had run off into the kitchen to put something away.  All of a sudden he began shrieking and holding his eyes.  He was screaming and crying saying that the sun was too bright and hurting his eyes.  This is at 8pm, indoors, lights off and no sunlight coming through the windows.

Now he is fine and running around playing.   I am really concerned because it was like he was in excruciating pain.  Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I suggest you call your pediatrician for advice.  I am not comfortable telling you what to do with this one.

JCH MD

[14ermom]

I read online that sudden flashes of light could mean a retinal detachment.  I was wondering if maybe something like this could have happened while he was jumping around on daddy?  After what I've read, I didn't know if our pediatrician could help.

I planned on calling her as soon as she opens today.

Thank you!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Retinal detachments are not painful, not common, and in young people with firm gel vitreous it takes an enormous amount to trauma to damage. Jumping on daddy is not going to cause the child's retina to detach.
JCCH MD