What Causes Light Flashes In Left Eye?

Posted on Mon, 19 Sep 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 Answered on

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife just had light flashes in left eye. Lasted about 15 minutes. What could it be?

Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Vitreous degeneration see the Ophthalmologist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the query.

I understand the concern. The back of lens in the eye ball is filled with gel like liquid called Vitreous and it hold the ball of eye in the early age till 60's. After 60 yrs it starts to degenerate by liquifying it and this is normal and common process. Some people it may start early and few later. Once it starts liquifying it would not fill the eye ball and the weaker attachments of the vitreous is at the retina. It starts detaching from the retina called vitreous detachments. Sometimes it can cause tear and detachment of retina as well. During this process the person would have light flashes in the eye.

If it is just vitreous detachments it is of no worry, but if it includes tears and retinal detachment then sooner you will lose vision.
Hence I suggest to show your wife to an Ophthalmologist ASAP.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar