But...I just had an exam yesterday and was told everything is ok.
Backup.......Wednesday night I fell in my hallway and went down "cheek" first. I have a black eye. I noticed that evening that I had "flutters" when I moved my eye a certain way. I went to the eye doctor (optomertrist) who I've been going to for years. He's very through and if there was a problem he would refer me appropriately. He first checked vision; fine. No change. Then when I mentioned the "flashes" suggested an exam of the retina and then a time specific pressure test. He dialiated my eyes and did a physical exam of each eye. Everything looked good. Then put me on this machine while eyes were still dialiated, that takes pictures of not only the retina but behind the eye ball. Everything there was fine. Long story short; pressure was fine and he felt that the eye was not affected by the fall.
Last night the tiny flashes began again; not all the time but sometimes when I move the eye like from left to right or up to down. It's more obvious in a dark room.
Does anyone know what else would cause these little flashes? Only in one spot and not very big. Like tiny line.
I'm not too concerned since I was seen yesterday. But if it does continue over the weekend Monday I'll call the Dr. again. We're in the middle of a blizzard today so there's a good chance he's not even in.
I'd really appreciate any advice or similiar circumstances.
No matter how nice a guy your optometrist might be, he is not qualified to advise on medical matters, other than to refer you to an ophthalmologist. A blow to the eye resulting in flashes is a serious matter and you should be seen by a specialist, preferably at an eye hospital. Don't waste any more time on this and get along to the ER as quickly as possible.
I'm sorry; maybe I didn't make myself clear in my OP. I hit my cheekbone and browbone; the eye was not "touched at all". My eye doctor did do a through exam of the retina; diliation and all. I'm sure if he felt that there was a more serious problem that required immediate medical attention he would have sent me to the hospital. I know there are sevral reasons for "flashes" and a detached retina is not the only one.
Your first post was quite clear but a blow to any part of the head constitutes a risk of eye trauma. Your optometrist undoubtedly has your best interests at heart but he cannot possibly carry out the sort of analysis that an ophthalmologist would undertake in such circumstances. The fact that you are seeing flashes, particularly in a darkened room, suggests that there is some reason for concern. It may be unimportant and will sort itself out in time but it could also be an indicator of an injury that could benefit from treatment. In your position, I would want to know for sure.
I recently hit my eye with a fone and has flashes of lite after and floaters. I did go to a retinal doc and he said I had tiny tears in my retina. You might have a tiny tear which would require laser surgery. You may need a retinal doc.
Your first post was quite clear but a blow to any part of the head constitutes a risk of eye trauma. Your optometrist undoubtedly has your best interests at heart but he cannot possibly carry out the sort of analysis that an ophthalmologist would undertake in such circumstances. The fact that you are seeing flashes, particularly in a darkened room, suggests that there is some reason for concern. It may be unimportant and will sort itself out in time but it could also be an indicator of an injury that could benefit from treatment. In your position, I would want to know for sure.
I did go to the Ophthalmologist and he did "almost" the same exams as my Optomatrist but more "extensive". And he put a "lens" directly on my eye to look for tears. I didn't like this at all! The bottom line is that I have no damage to the retina, but I did develope PVD's; the little particles of that gel stuff that broke away. That's what's causing the "flashes"; when a particle "tugs" at the retina. He explained what I have to watch for and he wants to see me again in 2 weeks just to make sure things are not worse.
I will say I do feel much better mentally. Actually the large floater that was a result of the fall seems to be gone! I wonder if all the 'poking and prodding' the doctor did pushed it away??
Anyway, thank you for you input. I really appreciated it.
I recently hit my eye with a fone and has flashes of lite after and floaters. I did go to a retinal doc and he said I had tiny tears in my retina. You might have a tiny tear which would require laser surgery. You may need a retinal doc.
Thanks for your reply. I did go yesterday to an Ophthalmologist who specializes in Retinas. See the reply to TopGeek.
How are you feeling; what is your course of action? Do you need surgery?
That's good news. Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is something that happens to most people over the age of 50 without any falls to encourage it. I expect the ophthalmologist explained that, in most cases, the inner limiting membrane just separates from the retina without any trouble - apart from an indeterminate period of time when those little flashes can be annoying.
That's good news. Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is something that happens to most people over the age of 50 without any falls to encourage it. I expect the ophthalmologist explained that, in most cases, the inner limiting membrane just separates from the retina without any trouble - apart from an indeterminate period of time when those little flashes can be annoying.
Yes; he explained everything including the "possibility" of a tear should the PVD "tug" too hard. However I'm hoping not to have that happen.
With regards to the floaters...is it possible that the extensive exam yesterday "pushed" the large floater away somewhere?? I don't seem to see it today and I'm hoping that's it!! I still have floaters; have had them for years. But I really developed a larger one after the fall.
It depends if it really was a floater - namely a bit of debris floating around in the vitreous. A similar effect can be caused by other things such as the ILM pulling on the photoreceptors of the retina or a spot of blood due to your fall. Either of these can disperse spontaneously. It's unlikely that an eye exam would have any effect on floaters.
It depends if it really was a floater - namely a bit of debris floating around in the vitreous. A similar effect can be caused by other things such as the ILM pulling on the photoreceptors of the retina or a spot of blood due to your fall. Either of these can disperse spontaneously. It's unlikely that an eye exam would have any effect on floaters.
I'm just curious; how is it you know so much about the eye?
Last edited by Administrator; 05-13-2010 at 12:13 AM.
If it ever does come to a need for eye surgery, let me assure you that it is remarkably easy for the patient. The fact that a poke in the eye or a bit of grit is so painful makes it difficult to understand that anaesthetics make it totally painless. Over that last few months, I have had three injections directly into the eye with only drops to deaden the pain. Each time it was a five-minute process and totally pain free - although a little weird.
Well, I'm hoping that my "floaters and flashes" aren't going to take me that far. LOL...
The floater that developed as a result of the fall is back; not as big but back none the less. I'm dealing with the tiny flashes; during the day I couldn't even tell you if they were occuring or not! I only notice them in the dark and the intesnity has diminished somewhat. But those floaters...make me nuts expecially driving. Any hints??
BTW....thanks for talking to me about this; I was VERY NERVOUS and it was you who helped me make up my mind to see a specialist.
It is very typical that the flashes are more visible in the dark because they are internally generated electrical impulses. They are always there but are overwhelmed by received light. They will eventually disappear but it's impossible to say how long that will take. You will learn to ignore them.
Unfortunately there is nothing much that can be done with floaters. Some people have what is known as an FOV (floaters only vitrectomy). That means removing the vitreous from the eye and having it replaced with a saline solution as is done with all retinal surgery - as in my case. That is an extreme solution and is a last resort if you can't learn to live with them. Talk to the ophthalmologist about this next time.
Sorry that it is not very useful but i'm pleased that I was able to help you find the courage to see the specialist.
I do hope you don't mind my asking questions. You're the only person that I "know" who has experienced this.
The floaters for the most part are ok in the house; it's when I drive. And again; it's only that new one. I'm wondering if sunglasses would help? We'll have to give it a try.
And the flashes; well since it's only in a dark room and I'm usually in a dark room to go to sleep I'm dealing with them. Can't wait to go to the movies and see how that is! LOL....But it's nice to know that they may go away. Floaters; well I guess I'm stuck with them. There is NO way I would have surgery just to get rid of them!!
Thanks for all of your support and I hope we can keep in touch.
No problem for the questions - as long as I can give sensible answers. That's why we're here.
The flashes can be annoying when you are trying to sleep during a firework display. I still have one phenomenon that affects me when I first turn off the light. I get a rapid anti-clockwise rotation of a ring of bright orange dots - like the sort of thing a graphic artist might use to close a scene on a TV programme. On the other hand, during my PVD period, for about one month before my last operation, I had a wide range of different phenomena in a darkened room - not unlike the Aurora Borealis. Sometimes it would be intermittent flashes all over the place and sometimes I had a solid pale blue light that would suddenly disappear as though a shutter dropped down. Other times I had the impression I was looking at old-fashioned flock wallpaper with a web of black patterns on an orange background.
Thankfully, I have never had floaters but have read a lot of reports from people who either learn to live with them or who have had the FOV operation. I doubt that sunglasses would have much effect but it's worth a try. The only other medical treatment that might be useful would be the sort of drops that are used to reduce eye pressure because they stimulate the flow of fluid in the eye. Still, you would have to talk to your ophthalmologist about that as they would require a prescription.
Well the sunglasses helped alot!! While it was slightly overcast here in NY today while driving that "new" floater was very anoying. So I popped my sunglasses on and "voila"...the floater was "almost gone". Much, much better. I do have to admitt that I am getting use to it; it doesn't bother me half as much in the house. But when I'm out, especially while driving I needed something and the shades helped.
My flashes at night the lightening bolt type in the far corner of the eye. But once I go to sleep that's it. It soulds like your flashes are very complicated to say the least. Is there any chance yours will go away??
Hope you're having a good day....and yes. Your answers are not only sensible but understandable.
I'm pleased to hear the sunglasses do help. My flashes were indeed very disturbing but they stopped after my last operation, except for the brief rotating dots when I first turn off the light.
The bottom line is that I have no damage to the retina, but I did develope PVD's; the little particles of that gel stuff that broke away. That's what's causing the "flashes"; when a particle "tugs" at the retina. He explained what I have to watch for and he wants to see me again in 2 weeks just to make sure things are not worse.
