flashes and floaters

[mrspenny]

for about the past 7 months i hvae been experiancing floaters and flashes of light.  Mainly when I look at the sky or anything lit with bright sunlight, or florescent lights like in a school building.  And when I look at a white computer screen or tv.  I have had a ct scan with dye, and that came back normal.  I have had a thyroid check and that was anormal.  I have had 3 different eye doctors look in my eyes and they all say my eyes are totally healthy.  I don't know what else to do.  I tracked the flashes and floaters back to when i started a new birth control i had never taken before.  I stoped taking it 2 days ago to see if the problems with my eyes would go away, but nothing yet, I don't knwo how long it takes for symptoms from birth control to go away after you stop taking it.  I also have trouble at night, there are rainbows around traffic lights, and head lights look like sparklers! if anyone else is having problems like this please let me know. I just can't figure it out.


This discussion is related to New eye flashes in main field of vision (In front of me).

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

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[mrspenny]

I don't see the "sparkels" when im in a dimly lit room or when my eyes are shut. My problems are more so when Im outside/driving, or when im looking at florescent lights. Occasionally through the day i'll see a blue light flash but then it goes away, and it doesn't matter if its bright or not for that.  I had my thyroid checked again and I found out yesterday they say i have hypothyroidism.  But I was having the same symptoms 2 months ago when it was checked and it was fine, but i go for a follow up today and i'll find out more.  I've also tracked the flashes and floaters back to when i started a new birth control after having my second daughter, so i stoped taking that to see if something changed, but its only been 3 days, and im gonna discuss that with the doc too.  I really need this mess to go away.  Right now I would gladly take a pill for the rest of my life for a thyroid problem if it would fix everything.  Thanks for your comments :)

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

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[jason80]

It's generally called "visual snow", so you can do a search, but there isn't too much info since not that many folks are afflicted with it. Although there are some web sites dedicaated too it. I have identical symptoms to you, as do most folks, and my floaters appeared about the same time. Another annoying symptoms is retinal persistence, with or w/o the eyes closed.

I am trying to understand whether most people with visual snow also see sparkling with their eyes closed. I do. I hope that is another weird symptom and not a potential sign of retinal detachment. My opto also told me my retina looks healthy. I can't tell which. Do you see also see sparkles with your eyes closed?