Flashers

[bowa41]

Hello,
I have been having consistent eye flashes and floaters for 6 months now. Went to eye exam, said my retina was in great health, everything looks great. He said sometimes people get ocular migraines on occasion, etc.

Well, I know all that, however these little lightning flashes are 24/7-they are just quite annoying. I told him I get them all the time  and he just started his spiel on ocular migraines again. I also see a shade of a color in my peripheral vision on occasion-sometimes green, or pink. I just want to know if I have anything to worry about-I am fed up. I have no other health problems, I am 21 and in good shape, wear contacts etc

[jason80]

Your eye symptoms sound like mine. I got a burst of floaters in both eys and then a month later I got various visual effects: flashing/flickering in both eyes 24/7, a more persistent retinal image, some false color effects similar to yours (mine are not uniform, but usually scattered with the true color). BTW, the flashing is much more pronounced on a monochromatic, flat surface, like a stucco wall.

The flashing is also worse in dark environment (or at least more noticable). When I close one eye, the flashing in the other eye worsens, even when I open the other eye again (at least for a minute or so). Given general symmetry of effect in both eyes it seems it must be problem upstream of where the optic nerves meet.  I've seen various opto-neuro experts with no satisfying answer that includes vitreous detachment, minor stroke.

Note that these effects occurred about a month after I got symptoms of peripheral neuopathy around my body. Given timing and severity of symptoms it seems in my case that these symptoms are all related. My brain MRI is normal and no lab test has pointed to anything noteworthy. Let me know if you find an answer or it goes away. Good luck.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

Your symptoms may really point out to ocular migraines and this is usually related to stress or inadequate sleep.  Other conditions would include problems in the optic processing centers in the brain (like some form of seizure) and rarely, this would present these kind of flashes.  However, if you have no other symptoms, this is rather unlikely.  I suggest that you also consult with a neurologist just to have additional inputs and he may offer other explanations.  For now, avoid stress as much as possible (though I know this can be easier said than done).

Regards.