Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I have had eye flashes for about five years now. After I have an accident on my nose, it looks like the liquid in my eyes is moving or pulling. What treatment can I do?
Although I did a lot of tests for retina, what else can I do instead of waiting to see if this problem stops by itself? And I have dryness also.
Kindly help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Flashes in front of the eyes are a classical sign of retinal detachment and posterior vitreous detachment. You should get your retina checked by a vitreoretinal specialist. Since you had trauma near your eye just before these flashes started, there is a strong possibility of posterior vitreous detachment.
If your retina is fine, maybe it is your brain. But this can certainly be told only by an ophthalmologist. Sometimes during accidents or falls, the occipital lobe (the part where the visual center of the brain is lodged) may get injured. Or the optic nerve might be compressing. Again, this can only be told by a thorough examination and head CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Flashes in front of the eyes are a very important symptom and a dangerous one too, and you should get treatment immediately. Furthermore, if you want a better opinion from me, please follow up with the following details, like spectacles, if any. Previous history of cataract operations and age.
I hope this helps.
Take care.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor
Thank you for the reply.
I am the same person who asked about having flashes in my eyes for five years or six years, and I just want to make clear that I have flashes in the sides of both eyes and not in the middle or center of vision, although sometimes it comes in the middle of the left eye, but rarely.
The accident was a hard fall on the nose from a bike, and I hit my head hard on the ground. When I went to the doctors, they said your retina is fine, and it may stop by itself. Now, after nearly six years, I still have it. Now I do not use glasses, and I did not undergo any cataract surgery.
My age is 29 years. My right eye is a little bit weaker than the left, but doctors said I do not need glasses; your vision is fine. But the problem is that I do not want to wait until something happens to my retina, and somehow, I do not think this flash is going to stop. You said it could be nerve pressure or the head, and you should get treatment. What kind of treatment should I get?
Because I remember one doctor said to me that most of the people who have flashes from injuries take two years maximum, and this thing is unusual, and he just did an examination of my eyes with eye drops. Now, what can I do instead of waiting?
Please help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Flashes in front of both eyes for the last five years (after trauma), and still not causing any new symptoms or any complications from it. I do not think you should worry too much. This should not do any harm whatsoever.
Since you do not have any accompanying vision loss or other symptoms, then most probably it is a minor problem. Sometimes the vitreous humor gets liquefied (originally a gel) due to trauma. These flashes are generally caused by that, and the problem is usually not progressive. That is why you feel like liquid is moving and pulling into your eyes.
However, you should visit a retina specialist to do indirect ophthalmoscopy to rule out any peripheral retinal lesion that may be causing it. They will do it by dilating your pupil with a drop and visualizing your retina for any problems.
I hope this helps you.
Take care.
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Answered byDr. K K Agrawal
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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