Seeing very bright lights/black shadow alternatively

[askyouradvice]

About 1 month after the retina tear treatment(in both eyes), I start to see lights.  the first onset was a very long green streak that is flashing green when I blink and turns to black shadow(which I cannot see through). When I blinked again, the flash/black process repeats.

Now it has been six months, and the symptoms are still here.  What I have found is:
1. it happens mostly when there is bright light(say under sunshine or looking at traffic light at night).  It happens around 10~20 times a day, sunny days I get more, cloudy days I am better.
2. The flahses appear to be from "a distance"(not in the eye).   And are of irregular shapes(strip, irregular shaped dots or curve), sometimes in both eyes, sometimes in just one eye. It's usally white, but can be green.  
3. It usually lasts about a  minute.  Usually "flashes" when I blink, and turn to back shadow, and the process will repeat of a couple of times. During the process, if I try not to blink, there could be no flash/black shadow, but if I blink again, the process would resume.
4. If I close my eyes, I would see very subtle color of the same shape of the flash/shadow in the eye.
5. My vision is OK otherwise.

I have several questions, thank you so much in advance!

1. So far I have seen two retina specialists, one said it may be due to vitreous traction, one said it's not(he said the light due to traction would be appear "in" the eye), is this true?
2. Could this be related to PIC(Punctate Inner Choroiditis) ? If so, would retina specialists be able to spot it? Or I should see someone else?
3. I have also seen a neulogist, but after giving me some brief examinations, he said there is no need for more testing(so I haven't done any testing to rule out anything specific)
4. Do I need to pursue more explanation/examination for my symptoms?  if so, who should I be seeing?  
5. any idea what this might be?  

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

Use the search feature and archives and read about "entopic phenomena" also read the section on it at wikipedia.com   I believe so of what you're observing is like entopic phemonema.
JCHMD

[askyouradvice]

Thanks Dr Hagan, I really appreciate your time and help!  I have one more question:  Recently sometimes before I fall asleep at night, with my eyes closed, I would see some purple dots in the center of vision field.  If I open my eyes, they are gone.  They are not flashy.  I don't know how long they could last, because every time i noticed it I would open my eyes immediately. It has happened a couple of times till now,  usually happens when I don't fall asleep quick enough(so that I get time to notice things I suppose?)  Is this also due to traction or  could be something else? Do I need to observe whether they are in both eyes or not? Thank you!

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

yes or something ele develops like loss of part of your peripheral vision, distortion of vision, double vision, etc
JCH MD

[askyouradvice]

Thank you very much Dr Hagan.  And by something changes you mean "the changes in flashes" and "dramatic changes in number of floaters" and other more severe symptoms right?

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

No it is not typical but it can happen. I would see the retina eye MD as directed once every 6 months would be reasonable for a couple of years if all is good then yearly. If something changes I would go in right away.

JCH MD

[askyouradvice]

Thank you Dr Hagan for reading through my post.  Just to make it clear that I didn't try to make it happen, it always starts on its own.  Does retinal traction also has this flash/turning black/flash again/black again episodes?  Also it happens mostly outdoor.  Is this something typical for retinal traction?

If it's retinal traction, under what circumstances should I see a retina Dr again?(One of the retina Dr said he's not very concerned as it's only triggered by certain light conditions)  I am confused and worried that it might lead to another tear or something.  What would you recommend me to do?  Thank you very much!

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

The fact that you can "cause" it to develop leads me to believe it is due to retinal traction. Typically retinal traction flashes last just a second or two. I have no explanation why it lasts for a minute unless you are blinking rapidly.  It is not typical of migraine which would not be caused by blinking. Since you have had an adequate work up I would move on and try to ignore it and not deliberately cause it. If something elese develops you might try a third retinal Eye MD and then a neuroophthalmolgoist.

I suspect it is not a sign of anything serious given neither retina Eye MD saw anyting alarming.

JCH MD