Flashes in the eyes, which can resemble camera flashes or lightning, are typically brought on by type 2 diabetes, macular degeneration, posterior vitreous detachment, retinal tears or detachments, or flashes in the retina. A migraine can also cause flashing lights to appear in your field of vision.

Please visit your ophthalmologist in Brooklyn to have your eyes checked. At Doral Health and Wellness Ophthalmology Center, our eye doctor will help you with your condition.

The main causes of eye flashers include:

Posterior vitreous detachment

Symptoms:

• • Floating dark spots
  • Flashes of light
  • Floaters that are more noticeable when looking at a bright background

Posterior vitreous detachment or PVD is the most common cause of eye floaters. It starts between the ages of 50 to 70. It is due to a gel-like substance in your eyes that slowly liquefies and contracts with age. When this happens, it can pull or separate from the retina behind your eyes. That part of the gel floats around the eyes and causes floaters. When it pulls from the retina, it may cause flashes of bright light. This can also increase the risk of retinal detachment.

Retinal tear or detachment

Symptoms:

• • Showers of floaters
  • A lot of bright flashes
  • The sides of your vision become dark
  • Complete vision loss in one or both eyes

The retina bears the responsibility of receiving and organizing visual information and sends it to the brain for interpretation of what you see. A retinal tear can cause a part of the retina to separate from the back of your eye. This tear can also get larger which can lead to a much bigger separation called retinal detachment.

Diabetes

Symptoms:

• • Trouble seeing during the night
  • Has blurry vision, usually in both eyes
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst
  • Can spot floaters and flashes

Diabetes is when you have a high sugar levels in your blood. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause many complications, that includes damage to the small blood vessels, including those of the retina, which is called diabetic retinopathy.

Macular degeneration

Symptoms:

• • Losing your central vision
  • Floaters and flashing lights
  • Darkening of central vision

Macular degeneration happens when the artery of your macula hardens with age, leading to less oxygen and nutrients to the part of the eyes that is responsible for clear and sharp vision.

Migraine

Symptoms:

• • Severe headache
  • Nausea
  • Sensitivity to light and noise

Migraine causes severe headaches that usually last for a few days. People will usually experience symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light/sound. People with migraine may also notice visual symptoms before or during a migraine attack.

You can keep a record of your symptoms: how they began, how they change, or how frequently they occur. You can discuss them with your ophthalmologist so you can plan and find the right treatment options for your condition.

Keeping the eye healthy is as important as keeping the body healthy. At Doral Health and Wellness Ophthalmology Center, our ophthalmologists treat a wide range of ophthalmic problems. To book an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11212. You can also call us at 1-347-384-5690 or check our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com.