Occasional white light flash in my peripheral vision

[el_bubu]

I am seeing an intermittant flash of white light in my left peripheral vision that looks like a moving circle or C.  I can see it with my eye open or closed and it seems to be worse at times.  Sometimes I don't notice it, but if I am in a dark ambient environment, I can sometimes see it flash every few seconds.  Sometimes I don't notice it at all.  I am 47 y.o. and it just started a few months ago.  Any ideas?

[Hudsongrl]

July 20th I noticed floaters that look like gnats in my right eye...when I looked at my computer screen. Over the last few weeks floaters increased in number and where especially annoying when outside in bright light.. Then about 2 weeks ago I started noticing a flash in my peripheral vision...kind of like an arc. This occurs when I move my head quickly.This all occurs in bright light or against a white background. So, last Thursday I saw my optometrist who dilated my eyes and looked for a retinal tear. She said all looked normal. I am 59 years old and she said age makes the vitreous pull away from the retina and is common cause of floaters and flashes. This is driving me nuts. I do not see the flashing at nite...only in light. She thinks the flashing is really a floater in the periphery that I am just seeing the tail of. How do people live with this. It is stressful and annoying. Thinking of seeing an ophthalmologist tomorrow for another opinion. The floaters I can live with, but the weird flash like thing when I move my head or look sideways is more than a little disturbing. My only health issues at this point are low B12 which I am treated for and Hashimoto's thyroid. Any suggestions? Does anyone else see the flashes only when they move their head?

[irishlady25]

I was told by my eye doctor that our senses are triggered the first moment that I look at my computer screen. It is too bright & we have to readjust. B12.. I found some wonderful organic vitamins, chewable & affordable,  consisting of beet root, broccoli, cauliflower & beta carotene! I am amazed, in quick time, my hair has even improved, healthier!.. I am sold!.. I now eat 2, maybe 3 servings of raw veggies daily.

[313soldier]

Just started with the flashes of white light about a month ago and I couldn't make heads or tails of them. Thanks for the ALL the comments, really helped a lot.  

[DonnaMarie113]

Furthermore, any correlation between medicine and dry eyes seems ungrounded.
Even when not taking medicine that I knew dried my eyes, when I didn't take it for an extended period of time, my dry eyes might have improved slightly, but not significantly enough to establish (unprofessionally, of course) any direct relationship between the two.

[DonnaMarie113]

No, the lights did not go away immediately after using drops but they did eventually go away and have not returned.
In addition to those eye drops in vials (which I use once or twice a day everyday), I also "lubricate" my eyes with Vaseline once or twice per day also.
HOWEVER, I bought a small container, put a label on it "eyes only" and only apply on each eye using a clean tissue. (To prevent contaminating Vaseline, I never put my finger in it, nor reuse same area of tissue.)
I never figured out if lights were caused from excessive dry eyes, or something else.
I still have very dry eyes, and area around my eyes has gotten super sensitive, itchy, somewhat "crusty," and would sometimes slightly tear resembling a painful paper cut. (Again, not sure if any of this is related to dry eyes which was related to lights.)
Went to dermatologist on May 16, and though I got some creams and found out I had a D3 deficiency, I am unable to pursue serious treatment for my skin nor see an ophthalmologist (which was my next plan of action) because...
on May 17, 5.5 hrs before my son graduated from high school, I broke my back in two places. (Unfortunately it was totally my fault by leaning on an inversion board for just a moment without my feet inserted properly while at a friend's house for a very short visit. Amazing how one stupid thing can change your entire life in a very short amount of time.)
Therefore, I am going to pursue an eye specialist after my spinal fusion heals (hopefully surgery will be scheduled by mid-July), and then will provide eye update.
Still, I am very curious as to finding a definite, logical explanation of what causes those flashing lights because I know it was quite scary for me, and I am sometimes concerned that they may come back.
FYI - Replenishing D3 and using prescription creams for a month has produced no improvement with my dry eyes or dry skin (around my eyes).

[bb1000]

Hi Donna, I have been experiencing these flashing lights and noticed that you said the eye drops worked eliminate them. Did it happen straight away or did you need to take it for weeks before you know it works? Thanks, Brenda

[bikeamtn]

Greeting; I'm replying as a fellow biker.
Myself - near 60; bike-tech, Mtb-instructor and former NORBA competitor.
1st; who diag. the C-V degeneration, your Primary Care, GP (General Practitioner), a referred Orthopedic Doctor, Neurologist or are we talking Chiropractor here?
2nd; have you ever been in a car cash (particularly rear-ended), been hit on the head or fallen off the bike that involved the head or upper-body (do you wear a helmet)?
3rd; have you been treated by a Chiropractor before for neck issues and was treatment by hand pressure/muscle tension or of a tool-punch/machine force type?

I been experiencing a brief, small white flash (too fast to identify any shape) in the lower outer corner of the right eye (interesting that most all here post left or both eyes). I feel a constant muscular discomfort/tension (sometimes very dull faint throb) in the right side of face, from back of the neck (semispinalis capitis & occipital bone) to cheek-bone and up to above the temple. This was present before the flashes began. My BP has always been spot-on normal, recently had a full eye exam and advanced testing (normal) as I now needed bifocals.

Note: for the first time (as I’m writing this, figuring it out) I found that if I finger-massage along the ‘superior nuchal line’, half the tension felt to my face is relieved (now that’s telling something). So, I think I have a theory.

Notice and Disclaimer: Each persons anatomy, physical/health history and problematic condition are uniquely different and questions/examination should always be referred to your Primary Care / medical professional.