80% of people have experienced flashing eyes. Is this actually a disease?

Have you ever experienced something similar to this:

There is no glitter around the eyes.

But sometimes there are flashes before my eyes.

But it disappeared in an instant.

In addition to this feeling, the eyes

There were no symptoms such as redness, swelling, or eye pain.

What is going on?

In fact, when many patients describe their condition in the ophthalmology clinic, many of them say that they have experienced a sudden flash of light in their eyes. This is what ophthalmologists call a flash sensation. So, what is the reason for a flash sensation in the eyes? What should we do when a flash sensation occurs? Let's see what ophthalmologists say.

1. What causes flashes in the eyes?

Flashes are actually a symptom that needs to be taken seriously. In addition to the most common cause, posterior vitreous detachment, it is sometimes a precursor to some serious diseases.

The vitreous body is mainly composed of collagen fibers and water molecules tightly bound together. As we age, the water and collagen fibers will gradually separate. When some uneven liquid appears, it will appear as a dark shadow floating in front of the eyes. This is the very common "floaters", that is, vitreous opacity, which often appears with a sense of flashes.

Ophthalmologists point out that when the above-mentioned vitreous "liquefaction" phenomenon becomes more and more obvious, if the posterior vitreous limiting membrane is incomplete at this time, the liquefied vitreous may flow between the vitreous and the retina, causing the vitreous and the retina to be separated, forming posterior vitreous detachment.

During the process of vitreous body and retina separation, not all parts can be separated easily, and some parts of vitreous body may still be attached to the retina. At this time, if you turn your eyeball, these still attached vitreous bodies will pull the retina, thus stimulating the visual cells on the retina and producing a flashing sensation.

2. What should I do if a flashing sensation occurs?

01. If you experience flashing lights, you should go to an ophthalmologist immediately for a comprehensive fundus examination. It is best to dilate the pupil to examine the fundus. You can also perform an eye ultrasound examination to see if the vitreous is pulling on the retina.

Once a retinal tear is discovered, fundus laser treatment should be promptly given to close the tear to prevent further retinal detachment. If there are frequent flashes of light and a sudden black shadow in front of your eyes, it may be retinal detachment. You should see a doctor as soon as possible to see if surgery is needed to avoid irreversible damage to your vision.

02. No ophthalmic problems were found during the examination

If no obvious retinal tears or retinal detachment are found after a comprehensive eye examination, you should not take it lightly. You should still pay attention to proper rest, avoid fatigue, and have a regular work and rest schedule. If you work with your eyes for a long time, you should take a 10-15 minute break every one or two hours. Don't use the computer for too long, and stop using your eyes when you feel uncomfortable. Insisting on appropriate outdoor exercise can help reduce visual fatigue, especially improve your own defense against retinal vascular diseases.

In addition, people with high myopia should make reasonable corrections to their myopia, and in daily life they should pay attention to avoiding holding their breath, strenuous exercise, and external impacts on the head and face.

Expert Recommendation

Wang Zhiqiang, doctor of medicine, associate chief physician, director of ophthalmology, secretary-general of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information, chairman of the Science Popularization and Health Education Working Committee of the Chinese Medical Education Association, and Beijing science popularization expert.

He is good at cataract, glaucoma, intravitreal injection, tear duct obstruction, pterygium, blepharoplasty and other surgeries. He is good at combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine to treat common and difficult ophthalmic diseases such as juvenile myopia, blepharospasm, dry eyes, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, ischemic optic neuropathy, optic atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, high myopia retinal diseases, thyroid-related eye diseases, orbital inflammatory pseudotumor and so on.

Source: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine