Definition
The photopsies consist of the sight of flashes and flashes of light, similar to lightning, which appear suddenly in the absence of a real light stimulus coming from the outside. These eye flares can appear with open or closed eyes. Generally, photopsies appear peripherally and last a few seconds or minutes. If these increase in frequency or intensity it is important to make an accurate eye examination with examination of the fundus.
Photopsies can be caused by alterations affecting the retina or vitreous body. They can be the consequence of small holes or retinal breaks (due to the presence of degenerative areas that make the retina fragile or thin) or of more serious pathological events, such as an initial posterior detachment of the vitreous body, traumas or primary retinal disorders. In fact, abnormal adhesions and vitreous traction forces stimulate the retina, which sends a signal that is perceived by the brain and interpreted as light.
Rarely, the vision of light flashes can occur occasionally in people without any pathology. Like my floaters, they can be a sign of aging.
Photopsies can also herald a headache attack (migraine with aura and ophthalmic headache) and are caused by a spasm of cerebral blood vessels.
Possible Causes * of Photopsies
- Headache
- Retinal detachment
- Migraine
- Retinoblastoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Toxoplasmosis
