Eye Flashes

[Quin1823]

So the last few weeks I have been getting this flash in my eye when I look to the left.  I've heard many people talk about how eye flashes but it seems that those happen when their eyes are closed. This happens when mine are open. I have had a ear ache as well and Im not sure if this has anythig to do with that? Has anyone else had this?

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

Yes flashes and floaters can day or night. If you've had a dilated exam by your ophthalmologist and told its not retina tear or detachment you might wait to see if it goes away, if it persists you might get a second opinion

JCH MD

[Quin1823]

oops, i just noticed it was you that responded and not the doc...sorry about that

[Quin1823]

Thank you so much for your reply. I did go to my Optimologist and he said there was nothing wrong. I do have glaucoma but he said that wasnt causing it. Im just afraid they are missing something. It is very destracting. Also the one thing  that I noticed the most was that this would happen during the day. When im driving looking out the side mirror or when im looking down at the key board and back up at the screen. Can flashes/floters happen during the day?

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

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[stephiesmith6]

I had a flash in my right eye when I looked to the left.  It happened suddenly.  One second I didn't have it and the next I did and it continued from then on.  A "shower" of floaters suddenly appeared, too.  Because my mother had a retinal detachment (and those can be symptoms of that), I immediately went to an ophthalmologist.  What I had was vitreous detachment, which the doctor said in a small percentage of cases can lead to retinal detachment.  There was nothing they could do about it.  The floaters settled down somewhat but 1.5 yrs later still affect my vision.  And I still get flashes if I look far to the left or right (very noticeable at night), so I am careful not to do that anymore.  Now I turn my head.  I would see an ophthalmologist just to be sure that nothing serious is in the making.  Better safe than sorry.