Do flashing lights mean retinal detachment?

Answers by Mitchell Gossman, MD, an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota, located in St. Cloud

If you see new flashing lights, new floaters, or new peripheral vision loss, it could be signs of a retinal detachment and you should be seen by a ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Stock photo

I’m seeing flashing lights in my vision, and Googling suggests I might have a retinal detachment. Is this true?

The retina is the light sensitive tissue in the back of the eye that senses light and forms images similar to how a camera’s digital image sensor or film detects images. Imagine if the eye is like a tennis ball, hollow in the middle. The inside wall of the tennis ball is smoothly lined by the retina, much like wallpaper, except that it’s not firmly attached, and the rest of the inside of the tennis ball is filled with a Jell-O like material called the vitreous humor. With aging, the vitreous humor starts to degenerate, and as this occurs it tends to form chunks of material that cast a shadow onto your retina which you see as floaters.

As the vitreous continues to degenerate, and even liquify, it will often start to peel away from the retina. Imagine if you had a bowl of Jell-O siting in the sun and the Jell-O starts to shrivel and pull away from the bowl – it’s much like this.

As it peels off the retina, it will stimulate the retina much like light stimulates the retina, and you may see a flash of light. It’s typically a quick streak of light in the peripheral vision.

As the vitreous humor continues to peel away from the retina, it may stick to it and tear a hole in it. This can cause the retina to also pull away from the inner wall of the eye – this is a retinal detachment. The retina might bleed which will also create a sudden snowstorm of black or red floaters, sometimes severely obscuring your vision.

If the retina is detaching, you may also notice loss of peripheral vision.

If you are suddenly experiencing new flashing lights like this, sudden onset of new floaters, or new peripheral vision loss, you should be seen as soon as possible to make sure your retina is safe. If you have floaters that have been stable for months or years without loss of peripheral vision, this is a lower risk situation, but it’s still recommended to schedule a routine eye exam; besides, everyone should have periodic screening eye exams even when you see fine.

There is one other cause of flashing lights that is of less concern, known as “Moore’s Lightning Streaks,” named after ophthalmologist Robert Moore. When in a dark room, if you move your eyes from side to side, you might notice a sudden streak of light in your peripheral vision. This is caused by the vitreous humor jiggling and stimulating the retina, without tearing it. It’s of no concern, but if it’s associated with new floaters or loss of peripheral vision, you should be seen as soon as possible.

Find out more

Mitchell Gossman, MD., is an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota. The office is located at 628 Roosevelt Road, Suite 101, in St. Cloud. To make an appointment or to learn more, call 320-774-3789 or email info@eaofcm.com.