If you’re seeing a lot of flashes of light, treatment of the underlying condition will usually reduce the number of flashes you see. Occasional flashes do not cause any damage and most people get used to them after a little while. There is no treatment for occasional flashes of light caused by vitreous changes from aging. This is a very serious condition that your ophthalmologist must treat quickly to prevent blindness. Suddenly seeing new floaters and flashes could mean your retina has torn or detached. O You see flashes of light after being hit in the eye or face. O You see a dark area or ‘curtain’ across your vision. O You see flashes of light along with cloudiness or dark spots in your vision. O You have a sudden increase in flashes of light. O You suddenly start seeing flashes when you haven’t before. However, if you suddenly start seeing repeated flashes of light, this could be a serious problem, especially if you also have cloudy floaters or vision changes. These occasional flashes are usually harmless, but you should discuss them with your ophthalmologist during an eye exam. Many people will see occasional flashes of light, especially as they age. Light rays that you may see around lamps, headlights or streetlights may be a symptom of cataract or an effect from an intraocular lens (IOL) or refractive surgery. Migraine aura can appear even if you do not get any headache. Migraine aura may look like shimmering jagged lines or appear wavy, like heat waves. In contrast, bright spots, lines or patches that appear and stay in place for a period of time may be migraine aura or a symptom of another condition. Flashes of light usually appear and then fade quickly. In both cases, the flashes are caused by physical force on the retina. Flashes of light can also happen if you’re hit in the eye or rub your eyes too hard. Most flashes happen when the vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks or changes, pulling on the retina (the light sensitive lining of the eye). They are not caused by lights or anything else outside of your body. People often say seeing flashes of light is like seeing “shooting stars” or “lightning streaks.” Flashes of light in your vision come from inside your eye.
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Flashes of light are pinpricks or spots of light that you see in your field of vision.