Flashing Light in Vision: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

This is the most common cause, especially in people over 50. As the vitreous gel shrinks with age, it pulls away from the retina. About 24% of adults aged 50 to 59, and nearly 87% of people over 80, will develop PVD. Most cases are harmless, but in some, this pulling action can tear the retina.

If flashes come with lots of new floaters or a dark curtain in your vision, it might signal a retinal tear or detachment, a serious problem that can cause permanent vision loss if not treated quickly.

Getting hit in the eye or rubbing your eyes hard can also pull the retina and cause temporary flashes.

Migraines may start with a visual aura, a pattern of sparkling lights, zigzag lines, or bright spots that move across your vision, sometimes followed by a headache. About one in four people with migraine experience visual auras, which usually last 5 to 60 minutes and are often seen in both eyes.

Rare causes include diseases like retinitis pigmentosa, choroidal neovascular membranes, or hereditary retinal problems that affect how the retina processes light.

In some cases, flashing lights can be related to neurological problems or diseases affecting the visual pathways in the brain, such as seizures, tumors, or stroke. These are rare but should be considered if no eye problem is found.

Rarely, some medications or drugs can cause visual disturbances, including flashing lights. Always report any new medications or substances to your eye doctor if you experience visual symptoms.

Special drops open your pupils to let our eye doctor see the entire back of your eye, looking for any tears, detachment, or weak areas. Your vision will be blurry and light-sensitive for a few hours afterward.

You will read letters on a chart to measure your sharpness of vision and check for any changes.

A gentle test checks for high pressure inside your eye, which can be a sign of glaucoma.

With specialist lenses or imaging, the retina is carefully reviewed, especially if flashes are frequent or recent.

You will be asked to describe your flashes, when they started, how often they occur, and any other symptoms you may have noticed.

If needed, your doctor may order additional tests, such as OCT (optical coherence tomography) or ultrasound, to get a more detailed view of your retina and vitreous.

No, flashes are not always serious. Many people experience occasional flashes as they age without any underlying disease. However, because new, frequent, or changing flashes can be a warning sign of a retinal problem, they should always be evaluated.

Migraine-related flashes often look like zigzag lines or shimmering lights, appear in both eyes, last for 5 to 60 minutes, and may be followed by a headache. Eye-related flashes are typically very brief sparks or streaks, usually in one eye, and can be associated with new floaters or vision changes.

You cannot always prevent age-related changes to the vitreous that cause flashes. However, you can reduce your risk of complications by protecting your eyes from injury, controlling health conditions like diabetes, and having regular dilated eye exams.

Flashes can occur in one or both eyes. When both eyes are affected simultaneously, especially if the flashes look like patterns or auras, migraine or neurological causes are more likely than retinal issues.

You should not wait. If you notice new or changing flashes, especially if they are accompanied by new floaters, a shadow in your vision, or vision loss, seek evaluation immediately.

Flashes are much less common in children, but they can occur. They may be related to migraine or, rarely, inherited retinal problems or trauma. Any child complaining of flashing lights should be evaluated by an eye doctor.

Flashes are often more noticeable in the dark. If they are occasional and have been stable for a long time, they are likely harmless. However, if they are new, frequent, or associated with other symptoms, they should be evaluated by your eye doctor.

Many harmless flashes will lessen or stop over weeks to months as the vitreous stabilizes and the brain learns to ignore them. Flashes caused by a serious problem like a retinal tear will not go away without treatment.

The flashes themselves do not cause vision loss. However, if they are a sign of an underlying condition like a retinal tear or detachment, permanent vision loss can occur if it is not treated promptly.

Not always. If a retinal tear is found before the retina detaches, it can often be treated with an in-office laser or freezing procedure. If a detachment does occur, prompt evaluation increases the chance of successful, less invasive treatment.

Yes, some medications can cause visual disturbances, including flashes of light. Always report any new medications you are taking to your eye doctor if you experience new visual symptoms.

Yes, a dilated eye exam is essential to fully evaluate the cause of new flashes. Dilation allows your doctor to examine the entire retina at the back of your eye for any signs of tears, holes, or other problems.