flashing light

[Tishrei]

Greetings,

About 10 years or so ago, I was diagnosed with something like cluster headaches but in my eyes (I don't recall the name of the diagnoses).  What happens is I will start seeing what appears like white lightening bolts float across my vision, it starts off slowly and soon there are so many of them that I have to stop what I am doing as my vision become so impaired with the amount of "lightening bolts."  It is completely pain free and fortunately does not last more than 10-15 minutes.  When I begin to experience the lightening bolts, I know that I will soon have very impaired vision so if I am driving, I immediately find a safe place to pull over and wait it out.  

I am a 48 year old female in very good health though I do have dry eye syndrome and wear contacts for seeing distance (though I have recently, due to age, need to have one contact for distance and one contact for reading).  Fortunately my brain is able to distinguish which eye it should use and have not had a problem with the two different types of contacts.  

My question has to do with the flashing bolts.  In the past few weeks I have had three episodes of the flashing bolts.  They are the same as before, no pain and they go away as expected.  I have never experienced this many episodes in such a short period of time, typically I may have 2-3 a year.  I have already had my yearly eye exam (no problems noted) but this has occurred since my yearly exam.  The only other incident I have experienced was a scratched cornea that resulted in a bacterial eye infection -- this was due to my parrot walking across my face while I was lying down and his foot got in my eye.  This was approximately 6 months ago but that has been treated.

I am wondering if the cluster issues could be due to stress.

Thanks for your help and reply.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You need to see a neuro-ophthalogist and probably a neurologist as well. While your problem could be eye (or ophthalmic) migraine it could also be a TIA due to disease of the heart, brain, eye or blood vessels.

Use the search feature and read about eye migraines and TIAs.

JCH III MD

[Tishrei]

Lastly, which I forgot to mention, is that I also was diagnosed with floaters about 3 years ago.  Every once in a while, it will appear that I see a flying insect out of my right eye but when I look over, there is nothing.  For some reason (fortunately), I have not seen the "flying insect" in a long time so I am not sure if this issue simply went away.  I mention this so as to give you a complete and accurate picture.

I am not concerned or worried about the lightening bolts as I am told that I it is not damaging to my eyes -- mostly it is bothersome as I must stop what I am doing and wait it out.  I am seeking an answer as to the possibilities as to why I am experiencing them more frequently than in the past.

Again, thank you for your help.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

you are welcome good luck
JCH IIIMD

[Tishrei]

Thank you very much for your quick response.  I did not expect to see a response until, at the earliest, tomorrow (Monday).  I just did a little reading at your suggestion and will be looking into making an appointment.

As a side, when I first started experiencing the "lightening bolts" I was immediately sent to an eye MD as it was initially suspected that I could be experiencing a detached retina.  When I called my family doctor and described my symptoms, he made a same day appointment for me with an eye MD -- and this was without seeing me.  As it was many years ago, I do not recall if I was seen by a neuro-ophthalogist but I do know that I have never seen a neurologist.  I do know that the doctor I saw was a surgeon as I had to sign papers as to which hospital I wished to have "emergency" surgery should it be necessary.  After a full examination, it was then that I was told that I had the cluster issues (I sure wish I could remember the name of the diagnoses or even the doctor that I saw).  

However, since it has increased in frequency and I do have a large vein in my neck that sticks out especially after heavy exercise (I typically run approximately 25-30 miles a week -- sometimes more), I will be making the appointment to put my mind at ease.  The vein in my neck has only been an issue for the past few years and I have not been concerned (probably I should have been) but mostly have seen it as unsightly.  The large vein is next to my throat on my left side.

Better safe than sorry and at best, it will turn out to be nothing (hopefully).  Your response gave me the impetus to get moving and do something about this instead of reading on the internet and just hoping it goes away.

Thank you.