Flashing Lights and Floaters
"Flashing Lights" and "Floaters" are very common eye symptoms, often causing individuals concern and distress. The vast majority of these individual will have entirely healthy eyes, and only require an eye examination and reassurance. However, a small minority of individuals with these symptoms can have a serious eye condition that requires urgent assesment by an Eye Specialist. THis information is designed by a Consultant Eye Specialist to provide patients with information on their symptoms of "Flashing Lights" and "Floaters" , to explain what causes them, and to highlight any features that may need urgent attention, either by your local Speciaslist Optician or if nescessary by an Eye Specialist Doctor.
Floaters - What Are They?
Floaters are tiny spots, specks, flecks or "cobwebs" that drift around in your field of vision. There may only be a single one, but quite often patients see multiple floaters. They may be in either one or both eyes.
Who Gets Them?
These can occur at any age, but become more common as we get older, particularly over 60 years of age.
What Causes Them?
If we imagine the eye is like a camera, there is a space between the lens at the front and the film at the back. In a camera, this is filled with air, but in the eye it is filled by a clear gel called "vitreous". Even thoigh vitreous is a gel, as we get older it becomes more "watery". As a result, small fibres of collagen form. It is these fibres that cause the symptoms of floaters, because they cast a shadow over the retina (the film of the eye) as they more around.
Flashing Lights - What Are They?
"Flashing Lights" is the sensation that an individual gets when they perceive a flashing light or shimmer usually in their far peripheral vision, and often more prominent in a dark room.
Who Gets Them?
"Flashing Lights" are a common symptom of migraine, often with headaches and most patients with this condition will recognise it as such. However, many individuals suffer "Flashing Lights" without headache or any history of migraine and for them, the symptom is entirely new. For these individuals, migraine is not usually the cause. These individuals may also have the combination of floaters along with their flashing lights. Again, just like floaters, these symptoms can arise at any age, but tend to occur more commonly as we get older.
What Causes Them?
The vitreous gel fills the back of the eye, and is normally attached to the retina. As the vitreous gel becomes more "watery" as we age, it detraches from the retina. As it does so, the gel can "pull" on the retina, causing the shimmering typical of "Flashing Lights" in the peripheral vision. Beacuse the vitreous gel detaching from the retina conicides with the gel becoming more "watery", this is why flashing lights and floaters often occur together at the same time.
How Long Do Symptoms Last?
The flashing lights usually last for a maximum of 6-8 weeks. After this, there is no longer any pulling on the retina. However, the floaters can persist for much longer, and in some individuals, never fully go away, though they often improve. The vast mahority of people with a few floaters get used to them.
When Are Flashing Lights And Floaters Serious?
The vast majority of people with symptoms will have a posterior vitreous detachment, and will only need examination and reassurance, either by their Specialist Optician or by an Eye Specialist Doctor. However, in a few individuals the "pulling" may cause a tear in the retina (Retinal Tear). As a result of this tear, there is a risk of the retina being "pulled" from its normal location at the back of the eye (Retinal Detachment) like wallpaper stripping of a wall. Because both retinal tear and retinal detachments can lead to permanent visual loss, they need prompt medical treatment. Therefore it is advisable for all patients with symptoms of flashing lights and/or floaters to look out for some "key symptoms" and if any of these occur, to seek attention immeadiately at their local Specialist Eye Clinic.
Key Symptoms
1) Any sudden or dramatic loss of vision
2) A shadow (aften described like a curtain) in your peripheral vision.
3) A "storm" of floaters (i.e. not just a few)
What if There is a Retinal Tear/Detachment?
If your Optician or Eye Doctor finds a retinal tear, you will usually require lasrer treatment. THis is only done at a hospital with an Eye Clinic. The laser acts like "welding" in order to prevent the tear from leading to retinal detachment. It is usually done as an urgency in a laser clinic (i.e. you will not have an operation) and you go home the same day. The time it takes to do the laser depends on the size and number of retinal tears found, but can be anything from 5 to 60 minutes.
If you have retinal detachment, this usually requires surgery at Hospital. You should be refered without delay to your nearest Eye Department for specialist assesment. There, a specialist will decide whether you need treatment, what treatment you require and how soon it should be performed.
This useful information has been provided by Niall Patton from www.niallpatton.com