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Strobe-like flashing in vision upon waking

I have been experiencing a strobe-like effect of flashing light in my full field vision immediately upon waking that last for just a few seconds and then resolves.  Not experiencing any other flashes throughout the day.

I am about 3 months post-op bilateral laser rentinopexy for retinal tear in one eye and asymptomatic retinal hole in the other.  Also 3 months of significantly increased anxiety as a result.

Retinal specialist states everything looks good.
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177275 tn?1511755244
Discuss with your retina surgeon. Often this is the scar around the laser changing from dark Adaptation during sleep to light adaptation upon awakening.
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Does this ever resolve?

I am now 5 months post laser (59 shots) for an asymptomatic retinal hole which was superior and temporal, and I have the same issue but it lasts all day. Flashing and flickering white and black 180 degrees from where the area that was lasered when I am around bright light or when going from dim-bright environments and also going from bright to dim.

I asked my retina surgeon and he does not know why this is happening because there is no traction on my retina. What is causing this?

How long does it take for this to go back to normal so that I am no longer seeing the flickering or the flashing or the dark spot?
That is an old post and it likely no longer checks. You could go on 0516 home page and leave a message.   The laser burns tissues and leaves scars, that is how the hole is closed. In some people the scar itself triggers the flash/flickering/dark or bright spot.  In a long career I have had 2 patients where it persisted for longer than 2 years but both eventually stopped.  
Thanks so much, it means a lot to me that you take time out of your life to do this charitable work. You have eased my anxiety. I have seen people complain about the light and dark spots and flickering but nobody comes back to say it went away. After 5 months I assumed it was permanent, and seeing as I was asymptomatic before the laser, this has caused a great deal of frustration. Especially since the retina specialists I have seen have said that the laser could not cause this issue.

Does the area stop flashing and flickering because the scars on the retina heal and are no longer contracting and pulling on the retina? Or does that area learn to dark/light adapt as time goes by? I’m just wondering why the flickering responds to light/pupil changes?

In your long career have you seen this problem frequently? And in your experience it never is permanent?
I still experience this sometimes in addition to a plethora of other crazy symptoms and phenomena I’ve experienced post laser surgery.  I’ve just pretty much become accustomed to it all.  I’ve thankfully had a very patient and understanding retina doctor who obviously understood patients experience some crazy things after these procedures, yet he never called me crazy or said it was all in my head.  My advice to you would be to be patient and hope that it all clears up but understand that it may not go back 100%.  It’s been a little of two years since my procedures.  The first six months post op were certainly more intense in symptoms than it is now.  So, give it time…it will likely get better and you’ll likely become more accustomed to it and not be as concerned.  Concern and worry only make it worse.  
Thanks, when you say it got better is that only because you are used to it more or did the flickering and flashing actually stop?
It doesn’t happen as often.  And if it does then it doesn’t really bother me.  I couldn’t tell you how often it occurs because I don’t pay it any attention anymore.  It’s frustrating and perplexing, but just give it time, potentially a lot of time, and it’ll improve.
Okay thank you, so it doesn’t happen every day anymore? For me it’s all day until I’m in the dark but worst is when I change lighting environments.
No it doesn’t happen every day anymore.  
Thank you jr.

Dr Hagan would you be able to answer my follow up questions I posted above when you have the time? I’m just unclear as to why this happens in response to light changes.

My flickering light occurs all day with no signs of fading over these past 5 months.
Cassidyalexa: Your experience is atypical. Usually the flickering  and dark spots are more commin at night and in a dark environment. Retina surgery is extremely individual and doctors cannot generalize like we can with cataract surgery. One of the patients that symptoms at year 2 moved and I no follow up. The other is still a patients (a physician's wife) and her symptoms eventually stopped.
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