Uveitis - flashes but not floaters

[DerbyPaul]

Hi there

A couple of weeks ago, I went to my eye doctor with red eyes and photosensitivity. He diagnosed uveitis and put me on hourly eye drops.

The drops have stopped the pain and sensititivity and are steadily reducing the redness but over the past few days I've been noticing occasional and intermittent flashes in the periphery of the eye. These have increased in frequency slightly but are still random rather than constant.

I just wondered if this was a common quirk with uveitis recovery or if it pointed to a vitreous detachment or a retinal tear?

I am due to see my doctor again in a couple of days so I will fill him in then and get a thorough check but any info in the meantime would be gratefully received.

[DerbyPaul]

He also confirmed I had iritis over any other type of uveitis which I was glad about because I understand that's the less serious version, compared to posterior or intermediate. Just wish it would go a bit quicker!

[DerbyPaul]

Well I went to see my eye doctor yesterday. He said my retina was OK and didn't really know why I had been getting flashes. He mentioned it could be a slight change in the vitreous and to let him know straight away if a black curtain starts to move across.

Since then, the flashes have become a little less frequent so I'm really hoping they just fade away and prove to be one of those odd things!

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

Let us know how things turn out.

JCH III MD

[DerbyPaul]

Thanks for your prompt reply - fingers crossed it's not a tear but at least I'll have an expert taking a good look for me.

[James J Salz, M.D.]

flashes are not part of the uveitis and I am sure when you mention it your EyeMD will dilate your eye (if it isn't already dilated to treat the uveitis) and inspect your retina to make sure you don't have a retinal tear.