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Conditions and Diseases > Vision and Eye Disorders Forum > Flashing white light from right eye
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Q: Flashing white light from right eye
asked by: crazybirdlady on May 13th, 2009
New User
I just sat down to read a book when I noticed a large white spot of light on the right hand page. It flashed a few times and made me look over my shoulder to see if the light was flickering, it was not. I looked back onto the page and again the large light (size just bigger than a toonie with non cemetrical edges flashed a few more times, not unlike a strobe lite. This happened a total of 1o to 12 times. I rubbed my eye and looked away a few times to see if I was seeing things, I tried blinking a few times, but it was still there. Anyway, this was a week ago and so far has not happened since. I had no headache at the time, just sat to read a book.

A freind of mine had the same thing for a year before he checked it out and ended up having multiple surgerys for retinal tears and bleeding in the eye. Could this be the start of a problem for me?

P.S. will a doc eventually answer to this post or are they all gone now.?

thanks.







Maryann
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MandMs
replied on May 14th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
The large white spot of light and flashes of light result from a reduced blood flow to a eye part (retina) that happens in both conditions, ocular migraine and retinal detachment.
When this is due to migraine the light is often flickering.
Vision symptoms of ocular (eye) migraine usually last for up to 30 minutes, and can be followed or not followed by a headache.

However, it is important to see a ophthalmologist as soon as possible, since it is difficult to distinguish between ocular migraine and retinal detachment based on symptoms.

Best wishes!
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crazybirdlady
replied on May 14th, 2009
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Flashing lite in eye
Thanks so much for the answer. When I went to my family doctor, he looked in my eye and said it looked pristine. I dont trust his exam tho as it took 3 seconds and he is not a specialist.

He would not refer me to the specialist and wanted me to go to see an optometrist instead. I asked what the difference was and he said, the optometrist I would have to pay for and the other was covered by ohip.

Is one better to go to than the other? Should I go see the optometrist or insist on seeing the opthamogogist?
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MandMs
replied on May 18th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Both, an optometrist and ophthalmologist can make diagnosis of retinal detachment.
My opinion is that the ophthalmologist can provide better examination of the eye.
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