Prolonged Exposure to Light

[MHAnonymous]

Dear doctor,

Please help me with these questions!

Last night, I drifted off into deep thoughts lying in bed and ended up starring at the light bulb (bright white light, about13w) by the bed side for about 10 seconds. The light bulb was about 3 feet away from my face.

I noticed and moved my eyes away and immediately noticed a spot in the central vision. I was in a panic but I think this is what it looked like. It was in both eyes and I could see it with both eyes open or only one eye open. The spot was very intense: when I closed my eyes it was bright and when I opened my eyes it was a dark/blind spot. I always see strong afterimages and this was more intense than the ones I usually see.

Eventually the spot subsided after 1 or 2 minutes (max) and it appeared to have completely gone away. I immediately went to bed. Being the sort of person putting anything under close scrutiny, I continued to examine my vision when I woke up just now. Sometimes, I thought I saw a very faint dark circle when I closed both eyes, opened one eye (the other one shut) and moved it around in certain directions, but this was not always the case, and the dark circle was very faint and more like very, very light shadow. For a little while, I also thought I saw an after-image like spot that is much smaller than the spot from last night and much less intense when I closed and then open one eye (the other one shut).This "afterimage spot" gradually subsided in a few seconds. I'm not sure if this is "old" spot from last night or new spot. Like I said, I can see afterimages easily and I can, in fact, see afterimages of the laptop monitor right now.

My questions are:
1. Would exposure to bright white light (13w, ~10 seconds) cause permanent damage to the retina?
2. Was this experience an episode of temporary flash blindness, and is there any aftereffect (so going back to the question of permanent/lasting damage)?
3. Should I seek medical attention from an ophthalmologist?

Thank you in advance!

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

U R welcome JCH MD

[MHAnonymous]

Thank you Dr. Hagan and gwencalon! :)

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

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[gwencalon]

Hi there. I just tried the same thing, and the afterimage is also lasting for a while. Even thought it seems to have disappeared, when I blink my eyes I still see some residues.

I'm not a doctor, so I can't actually answer your questions :) but I believe that sort of exposure won't cause permanent damage - I believe. I've looked at a full moon through a telescope (I suppose a much longer and stonger exposure) and it causes temporary blindess (really weird) but eventually goes away. Not sure, however, if these exposures are recomended at all. For instance, we all know it's not recomended staring directly at the sun - and that doing this through a telescope would most surely cause permanent eye damage. You may have very light sensitive eyes, but, as for light bulbs, let's see what doctors say ;)

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

1. No 2. No 3. No
JCH MD