Stop the flashing lights!

[piskieinboots]

Sometimes I get flashing lights in one of my eyes (rarely in two), it starts as a small dot which appears to be in my front line of vision, it then starts spreading outwards and expanding into very pretty (but so annoying) zig zaggy lights alround the eye.

I was told this was possibly migraine, but I never get a headache with it.

Any ideas on what it is?

[rustylady]

I get it too Piskie, sometimes followed by a headache - sometimes not.

[Snadger]

It is Guy fawkes night you know!

[rustylady]

Thanks Snadger! Doesn't just happen on Bonfire Night though. Actually, I haven't had it for a while.

[chris]

I get it too from time to time, no headache afterwards. Be interesting to know what it was - I thought I may need an eye test!

[zazen999]

I get a 'barber's pole' type of arrangement on the left hand side of my vision before a migraine. Not very often thank heavens.....I end up in bed whimpering like a baby when it does happen. Bleugh.

[Florence Fennel]

Ophthalmic migraine? (migraine without the headache), or a problem with your retina. Must be uncomfortable Piskie, you ought to see a doctor if it carries on (instead of the flashing lights)

[Two_Sheds]

I get the flashing lights before a migraine too. Sometimes it passes before the pain comes, sometimes I can catch it in time with a Migraleve

[Glutton4...]

My Migraines usually start like that. Quite often I get it first thing in the morning. If I'm still in bed, I stay there, eyes closed, until it's gone. If I'm up, I sit in the dark with dark glasses on. If it doesn't go, I put a cold flannel on my forehead, and go to bed.

Hope it goes, Hon!

[piskieinboots]

It is Guy fawkes night you know!

LOL - ya daft bu**er

I get it too from time to time, no headache afterwards. Be interesting to know what it was - I thought I may need an eye test!

I'm being told it is most likely 'silent migraine' - Florence uses a more acurate term below.

Ophthalmic migraine? (migraine without the headache), or a problem with your retina. Must be uncomfortable Piskie, you ought to see a doctor if it carries on (instead of the flashing lights)

I've had (and continue to have) regular eye tests, nothing has been mentioned about the retina, so I'm guessing your ophthalmethingy is more likely to be the cause.

[piskieinboots]

Hope it goes, Hon!

It has thanks me love - sorry to hear about your sh!ty migraines

Mine lasts anything between 15 mins to one hour, this is just the flashing lights you understand - no pain at all.

I said to Snowdrop tonight it was like my own internal LED fireworks

[Glutton4...]

A month or so ago, I had one without the pain! Took me a day to realize what it was. Weird! Luckily I get them very rarely. They are usually stress-related!

[Brengirl]

I too get disturbed vision as described. The flashing lights suggest a retina problem that could become detached. Have it checked Piskie.

[Snadger]

Eyes, flashing lights in the definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of popular medical terms easily defined on MedTerms

This is what our friend google has to say about it!

[piskieinboots]

... The flashing lights suggest a retina problem that could become detached. Have it checked Piskie.

But as I have regular optician check ups wouldn't this remove that?