eye problems (1 Viewer)

[BradleyS.]

I've recently noticed that sometimes when I put my contacts in I start seeing these flashing lights. ( no I am not crazy) It looks like the little lights from tinkerbells wand flashing around. It also occurs in bright sunlight sometimes. Is there some sort of problem with my eyes or can this be normal? my friend also has this happen sometimes to. Is it due to a vitamin A deficiency?

 

[Patrick Sun]

You could have floaters in your eyes. Go see your eye doctor if it becomes a recurrent condition.

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Patrick, floaters don't flash, they just float around.

I've never had contacts but if that happens when you put them in either they changed shape or your eyeball did. Get to the doc, asap!

Glenn

 

[Eric Samonte]

Floaters are actually debris stuck in the gel portion of the inside of the eye. They r usually perceived as "spots" constantly moving as the head and the eye move. While labeled as normal for some, an sudden increase in number denotes a serious ongoing problem such as a retinal detachment.
Flashes is a different animal so to speak. The eye has a vast network of blood vessels that when the bloodflow is interrupted, one would see flashing along the path of such vessels. This may be caused by maybe a lowering of blood pressure, a clogged carotid artery or an embolus blocking the vessel. Another cause might be an altogether different one, which usually happens to high myopes, nearsighted people and that is a retinal traction or a tear. As the retina is tugged on, flashing results and as such tearing it will produce the same. To illustrate further, remember when one of ur buddies would flick his finger at ur elbow and u get that "electrified" feel? That's the ulnar nerve getting hit. The retina is actually a flattenned out nerve and the reacting though as someone is pulling or flicking it.
With all this in mind. Glenn is right to say get to ur doc ASAP. Ur primary care physician would know of this and would refer u to an ophthalmologist for immediate evaluation.