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Seeing floater, light flashes. How long before doctor?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

About six hours ago, I started seeing a transparent floater which I had not seen before, and then three hours later, I started seeing light flashes at the edge of my visual field in my left eye. Can I wait for three more days to see my doctor?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

If you have access to an ophthalmologist on this weekend, then get a thorough retinal evaluation with indentation done. The symptoms you are describing are consistent with posterior vitreous detachment, a process which by itself does not cause a decrease in vision. However, it can pull onto retina hence causing a retinal tear in the process. If that is present, it needs to be lasered within a day or two. If you do not have high myopia or have a family history of retinal detachment, then you are low-risk patient and can wait another two days if it is imperative.

The Probable causes

Physiological.

Investigations to be done

Peripheral retinal evaluation.

Medically reviewed byDr. Nithila. A

Published At July 12, 2019
Reviewed AtJune 20, 2024

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