Movement Induced Phosphenes-- help, please

[sadie405]

Hi Guys--

Last night after I turned off my reading light I was talking to my husband when all of a sudden I realized that moving my eyes side to side was causing flashes of bright light. I remember ring shapes and verticle lines.  I kept testing it and it went on and  eventually waned. I laid there for a while and then tried again and they came back, but not as strong as initially. Side to side was what seemed to cause them, not up and down. This morning I tried but nothing. Is this worth a call to the opthamologist? I've had pain in my eyes for years off and on, but always wrote it off from straining my eyes(I'm a visual artist). When I saw him this month there was evidence of possible visual field loss but I've never had noticable visual disturbance, and my vision itself is actually 20/15.

Ok, now that I'm writing this I'm realizing that, Yes, I should call. But have any of you had this particular symptom?

Thanks much!
Sadie

[jensequitur]

Optic nerve damage will cause phosphenes in the eyes.  I have this in my right eye - moving it quickly will result in a burst of static, just like on the TV.  I also had a flash of blue light this morning - I guess something's going on, maybe another bout of ON.

[Nancy T]

I have had EXACTLY that particular symptom. Flashing white circles in my left eye when I move my eyes side to side after turning out the lights. The effect fades gradually, and it only happens (or I only notice it) in a dark room after turning out the light.

I am not sure what causes it--an optometrist long ago mentioned something about traction on the eyeball or the optic nerve or something, can't remember. Anyway, I got the impression it was due to the "aging eye." This started many years ago for me, in middle age.

I am seeing an ophthalmologist next month, so I'll ask him. I never asked him before because I always had bigger fish to fry with him (trouble with ghosting after reading looking down).

Otherwise my eyes are fine--no visual field loss (per a test I had in maybe 2004 or something--in fact, I think because I mentioned these flashing white circles to the optometrist) and no symptoms of optic neuritis ever (though never had VEPs). Not diagnosed with anything.

PLEASE let us know what your eye doc says about this, OK?

Nancy