possible torn retina

[pinkpixie26]

Hi.  I've been dealing with recurring flashes in my left eye, and have been working with a doctor who is monitoring them.  However, it's after hours right now, and I just experienced some flashes with a simultaneous shadow in a different part of my eye, and I'm not sure if this means I've got a tear or not.  The flashes always occur in the outside corner of my eye, while the shadow appeared across the lower left corner and bottom of my eye.  The shadow appeared at the exact same time as the flash, and disappeared when the flash stopped.  I haven't noticed any immediate changes in my vision, like blurring or more shadows or grayed vision, so I'm not sure if I need to seek emergency services. I'd appreciate feedback!

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear pinkpixie26,

Since this has represented a change in your symptoms, it is prudent you seek care just to make sure that you do not have a retinal tear or detachment.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[berrywoo]

Seek emergency care! If in the U.S. the emergency rooms aren't really staffed w/ ophthalmologists. However, if you've got insurance and can afford to go, then go!
The second option is to call the ophthalmologist's office that you normally go to and they should have someone on-call who will examine you, probably early tomorrow morning. Remeber to state that you have what looks like a curtain/grey shadow in your vision!
Or if the ophthalmologist's office doesn't have someone on-call, than call around to other ophthalmologists' until you find one that does and state that it is an EMERGENCY!