Regular eye doctor visits are key to preventing vision loss from diabetes. Eye floaters and flashes of light are common symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina. Visual changes from diabetesĭiabetes can cause vision changes that may include diabetic retinopathy. An ocular migraine is caused by reduced blood flow or spasms in blood vessels behind the retina. This type of migraine, also called a “visual migraine,” is different from an ocular migraine, which is more serious and may cause temporary vision loss in one eye. These flashes of light usually occur in both eyes. Migraine aurasĪ migraine with aura is a migraine with sensory disturbances that may include seeing sparks, bright dots or “zig zags” of light, according to the American Migraine Foundation. Food & Drug Administration states that they are “unlikely to be effective” for coronavirus and may have serious side effects. These drugs were studied for treatment of COVID-19, but the U.S. Malaria medications such as chloroquine (Aralen) and hydroxychloroquine ( Plaquenil) also may cause photopsia, according to the Review of Ophthalmology. Patients with digitalis toxicity may see “innumerable points” of light in the peripheral vision, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine. MedicationsĪ heart medication, digitalis, may cause photopsia in some patients. If you see stars after hitting your head, this may be a sign of a concussion, which requires urgent medical treatment. A head injuryĪ hard blow to the head can cause photopsias that look like stars, which is why we use the expression “seeing stars.” This happens when a sudden impact shakes the vitreous gel inside the eyeball. You may also see blue, gold, silver or multicolored lights. Patients may see white circles of light, flickers, sparklers, pinwheels, squiggles or pulses of light. Dry macular degeneration normally does not cause photopsia, but wet macular degeneration is a common cause of flashing lights in the eyes. There are two types of age-related macular degeneration: dry and wet. Some patients describe eye flashes from a detached retina as similar to a camera flash or lightning. Symptoms of a detached retina may include a dark “curtain” blocking part of your vision, blurry vision in one eye, eye floaters and flashes of light. A detached retina happens when part of the retina, a thin membrane that contains light receptors, separates from the back of the eyeball. Conditions that may cause flashes of light in the eyes include: Detached retinaįlashing lights in the eyes may be a symptom of retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency because it can lead to vision loss if not treated promptly with surgery. Photopsia can be a symptom of various conditions, some of which require urgent medical attention. What causes eye flashes? (Photopsia causes) If you’re experiencing the lights patients often refer to as “eye flashes” it’s important to see an eye doctor right away. Some of the conditions that can cause you to see flashing lights are serious (a detached retina), while others generally are not (a migraine with aura). You may also see flashes of light in other shapes or colors. Photopsia may appear suddenly and intermittently as flashes, zigzags, dots or pinpoints of white light in your eyes. Seeing flashing lights in the eyes (photopsia) is a symptom of various conditions, some of which may be hard to diagnose.
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