Flashes With Eye Movement

[Cecilia28]

Dr. Prince, I just read your posts about repeatable eye movements generally being non-retinal. But what about phosphenes related to damaged optic nerves? I see two repeatable, consistent flashes in my central vision whenever I am in a dark room or with my eyes closed and I move my eyes from side to side or up and down. These flashes are ring-shaped and very bright and have been with me for a bit over a month. The flashes do not happen spontaneously or without my mechanical eye movements...but isn't it possible that a damaged optic nerve could produce these same movement phosphenes? I saw a retinal specialist who confirmed that my retinas look good, but how can I confirm these flashes aren't something related to my optic nerves? My vision is good but I am concerned about multiple sclerosis and when I type "movement phosphenes" into google, of course all of the hits that come up are MS-related and that's scary!!

[nkharis]

Hello Dr Hagan,

I have really really high myopia in both eyes, I am seeing a flash (arc) in my right side of my left eye when I do quick eye movements looking down in dark room. I can see it with similar movement with closed eyes. However I do not see flash if there is light. Is this something serious ?

Please help.
Thanks

[JohnHaganMD]

There is no way I can tell for sure but many people can induce an arc of light with rapid eye movement especially in the dark. Read the section on entopic phenomena in wikipedia.com  Flashes associated with PVD and retinal tears often occur without eye movement and are more like lightening in the eye often associated with hundreds of small back floaters. You need to discuss this with your eye MD ophthalmologist.

[ups22913]

Sir, your input has put me at ease. Thank you so much.

[JohnHaganMD]

Happy to help. Best of luck.

[nkharis]

Hello Dr Hagan,

I have really really high myopia in both eyes, I am seeing a flash (arc) in my right side of my left eye when I do quick eye movements looking down in dark room. I can see it with similar movement with closed eyes. However I do not see flash if there is light. Is this something serious ?

Please help.
Thanks

[Icinapalici]

I have been experiancing similar phosphenes as Cecilia but I also have pain in my left eye when I move it left right up and down . The light sensation is always present and it looks as if I have been starin at he light foa a long time so everything looks very bright with that eye. I am also very afrain of being diagnosed with optic nerve inflamation. Please help!

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

I suspect that you became aware of it then. There are literally thousands of things going on in our body that if we tried we could hear/see/be aware of. examples our heart beating, ringing in our ears, the noises and movement of our digestive system, visual phenomena, noises and sensations in our joints, etc.    Once we tune in on these or become aware of them it becomes like honing in on a single conversation in a room full of people talking.

Things that can make us do this include stress, anxiety, depression, hypocondriasis, fear or per chance.

As long as those things don't change and only occur with rapid eye movement in a dark surroundings I don't think it represents any progressive disease. If it gets worse or something new develops you may need some tests. If you have not had an eye exam in the last 12 months see an Eye MD for an exam. When you go in ask them to check your eyes for color vision separately in each eye and do an Amsler grid test.  Experess your concerns to the eye MD. I don't see anything troubling in your observation now.  Find an Eye MD near you at www.aao.org

Merry Christmas KatieP

JCH III MD

[Cecilia28]

Thank you very much for your response, Doctor, and for the link. A follow up, if you have time. If not, that's okay. What caused the rectus muscles to begin pulling, a month ago? Did the muscles get tight for some reason? Should I expect this to be a permanent phenonmenon, or will it perhaps subside? Is there anything I need to do about it?

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

I think it highly unlikely that your eye movement associated visual phenomena are related to MS or optic nerve pathology.

Your description is almost a text book description of a type of pressure phosphene generated by the extraocular muscles pulling on the dark adapted eye.  I strongly believe you are appreciating the phosphenes generated by your medical and lateral rectus muscles.

Please read more about entoptic phenomena.  This is a good starting reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entoptic_phenomenon

JCH III MD

[Cecilia28]

Sorry about that, Dr. Hagan. For some more information, I am a 28 year old female with relatively good health. I did have an MRI about 5 months ago for some inner ear problems that turned up clean. Do you think these central visual field lights are nerve related? I don't get them by gently touching my eyelids, just from moving my eyes. My optic nerve is difficult to see because my eyes are so myopic, my ophthamologist says. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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

Okay, than I won't speak for him.

JCH III MD

[KatieP]

Dr Prince was your predecessor on these boards.....I suspect Cecilia has read an archive posting and responded!

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

I have no idea who Dr. Prince is.

JCH III MD