Eye injury with flashing lights

[TanaShea]

I got hit in the eye last Thursday and went to the Optometrist.  She put a drop in my eye and checked it and said that I had one large scratch on the center of my eye and 3 small scratches on other parts of the eye.  She gave me antibiotic drops and had me to come back on Friday to be checked.  On Friday she said the 3 small scratches were healed and the large scratch was about 80% healed.  However, that evening I started seeing floaters and flashing lights in the upper left corner of my eye.  I don't know what kind of drop she put in my eye or if it was to dilate it (I was not light sensitive when I left).  Is this common after a hit in the eye and if so does it usually clear up?  I was having double vision right after the injury and now I am no longer seeing double but have wavy lines around images and words.  Considering how she checked my eye, do you think she checked the retina or just the cornea and should I go back and be checked again or is this normal?

[TanaShea]

I wrote this once, but I don't know if you got the message.  I took your advice and called my optomertrist and got a referral.  He checked my eye and said that he did not see a tear or detachment but could see where the fluid had attached to the back of the retina.  He said it looked like it had started to come away from the wall and was improving.  He did see the floaters in the same spot that I described them.  He told me to watch for 4 things and if any of these occurred to call immediately--1.  increase in flashing lights  2.  increase in floaters  3.  decrease in vision and 4. a black curtain descending.  He wants to see me for another check in a week unless any of these occur and then immediately.  The number of flashes and floaters have both decreased and I am keeping a close watch on the four things.  Thank you both for your advice, I did not realize it could be that serious.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You need to see an ophthalmologist ASAP.  It would be a waste to time to go to the ER unless they have an ophthalmologist on call.  Call you optometrist as an emergency and get a referral.

Dr. O.

[wh7qq]

If you are seeing flashing lights and floaters, you should contact an opthalmologist (MD, not OD) immediately today and describe your symptoms.  If you don't already have an opthalmologist, you should go to the emergency room now and they will probably call in an opthalmologist.  You could be having a retinal tear or detachment and that is an emergency!