Do you see flashes of lightning inside your eyes? Let's talk about photopsias!

Have you ever noticed that even in a place where there is no light, you can see flashes of light or small sparks inside your eyes? It feels like someone is turning a flashlight on and off inside your eyes. This is actually something that happens to many people. Sometimes this can be more noticeable when you wake up in the morning, and it gradually decreases as the day goes on. You can also see these things when you are in a dark room, or when you suddenly shake your head. Today we are talking about this condition called Photopsias in medicine. Simply put, Photopsias are light signals that our eyes or brain perceive in the absence of real light. This is a bit like seeing small black objects (eye floaters ) floating in front of our eyes. There is also a medical name for those black objects floating - Myodesopsias. Sometimes this seeing of lights and black spots can occur together. The main reason for both of these is that the jelly-like substance inside our eyes, called the vitreous humor, is pulled on the sensitive membrane at the back of the eye called the retina . This pulling stimulates the retina and sends incorrect light signals to the brain.

What do these lightning-like things look like?

The light seen in this way can be seen differently by each person. Most of the time it appears white or glowing, but sometimes colored lights can also be seen. Imagine what these look like.

Why is this happening? What are the main reasons?

It is normal to experience this type of light from time to time. This can be considered normal, especially as the eye changes as we age. However, sometimes it can be a symptom of a medical condition. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this. Here are some of the main causes:

• Migraine headaches : Some people experience auras before a migraine. This is called ``Migraine with aura''.
• Posterior vitreous detachment: This is the most common cause. As we age, the jelly inside the eye becomes thinner and separates from the retina. This is not dangerous, but it can cause vision loss because the retina is pulled back.
• Retinal detachment: This is an emergency. If the jelly pulls away from the retina and causes a tear or detachment, it can cause permanent damage to vision.
• Optic neuritis : Inflammation of the nerve that carries messages from the eye to the brain.
• Eye trauma: This can happen when the eye is hit or severely bruised.
• Traumatic brain injury: This symptom can also occur due to the impact on the brain caused by a blow to the head.
• Retinal hemorrhage: Bleeding inside the eye can occur due to conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure .
• Ocular inflammation: Inflammation and infection of various parts of the eye.
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency: A condition caused by a blockage of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.

How is this treated?

Photopsias are treated by finding and treating the cause. If you are seeing lights like this, your doctor will first look for the cause. For other causes, treatment is determined based on the specific condition. For example, if it is due to migraine, medication is given for that.

Things you can ask your doctor:

When you go to see a doctor to talk about this, he or she will likely ask you some questions like these. It's a good idea to think about the answers in advance. If possible, take a small note with you.

• When did you start seeing this light?
• What kind of light do you see? (Like lightning? Like sparks?) How many do you see at a time?
• How often do you see these? How many times a day? Once a week?
• Have you had eye surgery before?
• Have you ever had an eye injury ?
• Do you feel like a black curtain is falling in front of your eyes?
• Do you see shadows in your peripheral vision ?
• Do you have other medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or other autoimmune diseases?

What can be done at home? Can it be prevented?

In most cases, photopsias that occur without a serious cause do not require special treatment. However, this should be decided by your doctor, after a thorough examination of your eyes and hearing all the details. Never make decisions on your own. It is not possible to completely prevent this condition from occurring. However, we can reduce the risk by maintaining our overall health and eye health.

• If you smoke , stop .
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight that suits you.
• Eat nutritious foods, especially good foods like the Mediterranean diet.
• Wear eye protection , such as sunglasses when in the sun and safety glasses at work.
• See your doctor regularly and have your eyes checked.

When should you see a doctor immediately?

If you have any of the following symptoms along with them, it could be an emergency. See a doctor or go to an emergency room (ETU) immediately.

• Sudden loss of vision or severe vision loss.
• Severe pain inside the eye.
• The visibility suddenly increased greatly .
• As soon as you see the light, a large number of black spots (floaters) suddenly appear in front of your eyes .
• Feeling as if part of your vision is covered by a black curtain .

Photopsias can be confused with other serious medical conditions such as hypertension, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, and macular degeneration. Therefore, it is wise to see a doctor if you notice any changes in your vision. photopsias, eye flashes, lights in the eyes, flashes in the eyes, retina, retinal detachment, eye diseases, vision changes