Flashing lights with eyes closed

[Dee174]

Hello. I recently wen't to the eye Doctor because of some sharp stabbing pain in my eyes, some stabbing pain in my eyebrow area of my face, as well as soreness in my eyes. The pain wasn't very hard it was like a level 4 out of 10 but since it was with me for about a week I started to worry. The Doctor said that my eyes were fine. Maybe I had dry eyes and since I also suffer from anxiety maybe this just made the symptoms worse. However I forgot to ask my doctor a question and hoped maybe ya'll could help me. I have noticed that sometimes (Usually when I'm about to go to sleep) when I close my eyes I see flashes in 4 flash intervals. I usually have a total of 4 to 5 of these ocurrences lasting for about 1 minute per night in total. I also sometimes see colored or white light "blotches" with my eyes closed. I have read seeing flashes with eyes closed are normal but I was just wondering if what I am describing also fits in this normal category and if so why do I see this?

[Dee174]

Thank you very much I'll look that up. I was also wondering if "blinking" with your eyes closed can be something normal or brought on by stress. I know you can't actually blink because your eyelids are down, it could just be twitching , but what I mean is to have the same muscle contraction/movement in your face with your eyes closed as if you were to have them open. I'm pretty sure that's a weird symptom but any help would be appreciated.

[Flavius G Pernoud III, MD]

If you have had a complete dilated exam and it is normal, the pain is probably not from your eyes. Most likely sinus congestion/infection. Check with your primary doc or an ear nose throat doctor. The flashes probably have nothing to do with the pain. Check out "Photopsia" and on the web. These are common and usually normal.