Visual disturbances???

[broguemum]

OK, I am now officially worried. I mentioned, off hand, to an acquaintance that I have seen little flashes of light out of the corner of my eye every so often and that I was thinking of getting it checked out. They advised me to go and see an opthamolgist ASAP as this could be the sign of a detaching retina or some other serious damage or health problem. I have now googled it which I try not to do with medical stuff as and have found lots of scary stuff.

Any opthamologists out there who can reassure me and let me know what the possible causes of flashing lights on the peripheral vision are?

Make an appointment with an optician for an eye test. You will be able to get one today. It could be a sign of a detached retina, but it could also be an optical migraine (doesn't necessarily come with a headache) The optician will be able to either put your mind at rest or advise you what to do next.

Thanks Grinnypig - I've made an appointment for this afternoon. They've said I will have to have someone to drive me back as they will give me eyedrops that will effect my vision.

If it is a detached retina do you know what the treatment is?

Ok, you need to go and get it checked out.
I had this 6 yrs ago and did get it checked out.
it was something ery rare in this country- and 6 yrs later it is causing me some problems just now.

Your problem may be nothing but nobody can diagnose it over the net, only the person looking at your eye can give you a diagnosis.

Most things are very fixable so don't worry.
But get an appt and get it checked out, please!

good luck

Sorry, I don't know what the treatment is for a detached retina, but I do get optical migraines, which is why I know about those. Take some sun glasses with you as your eyes will be very sensitive to light because of the drops. Easier said than done, but try not to worry.

broguemum, I get optical migraines with no headache or other symptoms whatsoever. They produce VERY spectacular visual effects , like looking through a kaleidescope, but just on the periphery of my vision and in only one eye. This usually lasts for 15-20 minutes.

This really freaked me out the first time it happened and I went straight to Moorfields Eye Hospital's emergency dept, where they were able to set my mind at rest.

An optician should be able to rule out anything more sinister, so best of luck this afternoon.

Thanks everyone. The lady I chatted to this morning did rather worry me so I have booked an appointment today - no mean feat here I tell you! One guy said the next appointment was SEPTEMBER!!!!

It's such a little thing that has got me worried. It's wierd - I get no physical symptoms (sp?) i.e. no head ache or eye ache, just a small flash in the corner of my eye. It's as if someone has taken a photograph with a flash in another room IYSWIM? This has been going on for a few days now - I didn't notice it at first.

Anyway, DH is coming home early to take me to the optician.

Thanks for the tip about the sunnies. I will remember them.

how did it go?

well, it could be the beginings of a detached retina or fatigue or a pinched nerve in my neck - the doctor is not sure so I'm going back next week for a control. Thanks for asking

i'd get to an eye hosp tbh,
My problem was missed by the GP at the time.
I had flashing lights at the top of my vision.
She said she could see nothing wrong and it stopped/

Months later i went for an eye test at specsavers
they sent me to moorfileds as there was something obviously wrong with my retinas.

I got a diagnosis at moorfileds.
Luckily 9for the drs) there was no treatment to be had, but it would have been very sad if my eye had got worse and they were saying they could see nothinig.

Obviously if it is getting better, fair enough to wait.
But if it is carrying on- i'd get a second opinion TBH

Don't want to scare you and stress you out- but I don't think drs look in the back of eye enough in the course of a day to make a good diagnosis.

good luck!

oops again sorry to thread crash but my dd has been having flashing in her eyes since september. Was your flashing all the time or just now and again, hers happens between 3 - 20 times a week for about 10 to 60 seconds at a time and the doctors dont seem to know what it is

Thanks oopsagain - hope your eye problems are resolved.

The doctor I am seeing is an opthamologist. She did a glaucoma examination and then put the drops in to expand the pupils and then did the whole shine the light into your eyes bit and spent a good 10 to 15 minutes looking into my eyes. I'm going back on Monday for another session and am under strict instructions not to exert myself physically (!!?) in case it is the beginings of a detached retina. It's funny, but since I had my eyes examined I have not experienced the flashing again. I'm pretty paranoid about my sight - my brother was practically blind for 16 years - so I will be careful. Thanks for following up.

mummytopebs - No worries about crashing.

My flashing is not continuous - it is an isolated flash in the very top right of my peripheral vision. I see this about 7 times a day although I am sure when I am out and about in the sunshine I don't see it at all but think it's "lost" amongst the other light IFSWIM.

broguemum, i'm glad it's an ophthlamologist- my intial dr was a GP. Fair enough to wait for a week or so then.

and mummytopebs, my initial problem was "scintillations" at the top of my vision. Like when you look at some water with the sun reflecting back off it. Just at the top of my visual field. it was intermittent and lsted a few weeks and then stopped
My condition is pretty rare in this country (uk) but i think i picked it up from going to a conference in USA.
I think the lights were when I was having an infection in my retinas.

6 yrs later some of the scarring has bled and now I have lost some vision in one eye.
there is treatment for the bleeding but not for the original infection.

As i said- it's pretty rare. in moorfileds they say they see a few a year- so not that common.
I doubt that your daughter has the same- but i would suggest that she sees an ophthalmologist vs a GP.

And e