What are photopsias (eye flashes)? Flashes of light you see even when you're not looking at light have a medical name - photopsias. They're kind of like eye floaters, which have a medical name, too. Light flashes can happen in one or both of your eyes and have different shapes, colors, frequencies, and duration.
There are many causes for this. Flashing lights in the eyes can have various causes. Find out the complications, risk factors, when to see a healthcare provider, and more.
Seeing occasional flashing lights in your eyes usually isn't an issue. But repeated flashes in the forms of bright spots, streaks of lightening, or shooting stars in the corner of your eye can indicate a serious medical condition. A prompt visit to an ophthalmologist or a retina specialist can prevent permanent vision loss.
Flashes of light in the eye are pinpricks or spots of light that you see in your field of vision. People often say seeing flashing lights in the eye is like seeing "shooting stars" or "lightning strea. Photopsia is a symptom of several medical conditions that affect the structures inside the eye, the optic nerve, and even the brain.
If symptoms get worse or appear suddenly, get emergency medical attention. Flashes of light in the eye often appear and fade quickly and can appear more frequently as you age. Learn about causes and treatments for photopsia.
Seeing flashes of light is a symptom of many different conditions. Learn when to see an eye doctor to find the cause and get treatment right away. Eye Flashes Flashes of light or specks (commonly known as floaters) in your vision can be surprising and even unsettling.
Whether they appear as quick streaks of light in the corner of your eye or as floating spots that drift across your vision, these symptoms can be signs of several eye conditions-some harmless, others potentially serious. Eye flashes and floaters are common and while usually harmless, in some cases they can be signs of problems in the eye. See a doctor right away if you experience new or sudden onset; a dark area, gradual shading, or a "curtain'" across your vision; a blurred vision; a rapid decline in vision; a sudden increase in flashes of light or repeated flashes of light; flashes of light occur along.