Vision and Eye Disorders Forum - Flashes of Color/light In Vision
Medical questions     Health forums     Help    

Flashes of Color/light In Vision

New Topic  Reply  Ask A Doctor - Offline
Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Vision and Eye Disorders -> Flashes of Color/light In Vision
Medical Questions
Author Message
callisto9

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Flashes of Color/light In Vision
Posted: 12-09-07 20:24pm

hello! first a little background. 32-year old female. worn glasses since i was about six. very nearsighted. also have an astigmatism. in early spring of this year, i went off my anti-depressant, celexa (20mg). i went off slowly, but apparently not slowly enough. after two months of horrible side-effects/withdrawal, i had to go back on (10mg this time).

right after i went back on, i got headaches. i had a headache every day, though not all day, for five weeks straight. i even had my first migraine. i think i've only had a few migraines since then (2?) but the headaches have dissipated, though i still get one (mild) occasionally.

during some of these headaches, and also before and after, i'd see this strip of colored light flash in my vision. eventually, the colored strip of light would happen randomly for a second here and there, without a headache present. kinda looked like a prism of sorts, though thin, and linear.

during the time of the daily headaches, i went to my optometrist and had my eyes checked. my prescription changed a little and i got new glasses. other than that, nothing out of the ordinary was noted, even though i did mention the headaches and color flashes. his guess was migraines and kinda seemed dismissive.

the light flashes continued, though most of the time, no headache was present.

i eventually went to an ophthalmologist. my pupils were dilated and my eyes were checked. i told them of my symptoms, but the doc said it didn't sound exactly like an ophthalmic migraine, and she'd never heard of visions problems exactly like i was having before. ugh. anywho, my eyeballs were fine and they said they were healthy. no retinal detachment or anything like that.

the color flashes are a little different now. they are more spots, rather than lines. kinda like what you see after having your picture taken with a flash. i have them every day, for a split second here and there, throughout the entire day. my vision is not obstructed in any way. it's just annoying. nothing seems to bring them on and nothing seems to help. i see them with or without my glasses on. i believe they are in both eyes. i see them more when looking at a computer screen, it seems, but i see them in any circumstance. there does seem to be a dull headache with them sometimes, and my eyes feel strained, but often, it's just the flashes of color with no other symptoms present.

i'd say i've been experiencing this for about 4-5 months now.

my next step, according to my doctor, is to see a neurologist. i'm not looking forward to that since it's likely to cost me an arm and a leg. i just don't know what they'd find either.

so, that's where i am right now. any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. if i've put this in the wrong forum, please feel free to move it.

thanks in advance.
|
Jules

Supporter
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 3757
Location: Merrie Englande, UK
Thanks: 78
Thanked:66

Posted: 12-10-07 16:27pm

Hello! I have had the same thing for many years now and have come to ignore it. I tend to see blue or pink flashes and also the white lightning-like flashes in my peripheral vision. I was checked out by the top guys in the field because of a family history of Retinitis Pigmentosa but came back all clear. They said it was probably linked to migraine.

I wouldn't worry if you've been checked out and given the all clear. I think it's often the case that once you notice something such as these lights and you worry about them, then you see them all the more. I'm used to mine now and don't get them so frequently.

Hope this helps!
|
callisto9

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 5

Posted: 12-10-07 16:32pm

thanks for your response jules.

i tend to think if i pay them more attention, i notice them more. i have been getting really down about it lately, as they are so frequent. i'd guess on any given day, i have about 100 - 200 of them flash across my vision.

i do tend to think a trip to the neuro would be a waste of time, but i might have the consultation anyway.

what's hard for me to grasp is why i have them every day. throughout the entire day. it's maddening! and, it's weird 'cause they've changed a little. initially, it was a line and now it's spots. Sad ugh.

jules, how old are you? did anything change in your life when you started getting these flashes? or did they just happen one day? i truly believe mine were somehow caused by the change in my medication, but i can't really be sure.

thanks again for your input. glad to know i'm not alone!
|
Monique07

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 1
I Have the Same Experience!
Posted: 12-13-07 00:41am

Hi! Please contact me at my email add... [email removed]. My name is Shalott, and I am only 17 yrs old, but I am having the same problems like you guys! I didn't undergo any medication so I have no idea what triggered it... It happens to me randomly as well. Doubt it's a psychological thing too... Pls. send me reports about any progress. I'm really scared right now... I haven't consulted any physician either... The weird thing with my case is that I encounter dizziness when it happens and I sometimes vomit. The headache doesn't leave me until I sleep and relax my eyes! Pls. reply!
|
callisto9

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
Re: I Have the Same Experience!
Posted: 12-13-07 09:16am

Monique07 wrote:
Hi! Please contact me at my email add... [email removed]. My name is Shalott, and I am only 17 yrs old, but I am having the same problems like you guys! I didn't undergo any medication so I have no idea what triggered it... It happens to me randomly as well. Doubt it's a psychological thing too... Pls. send me reports about any progress. I'm really scared right now... I haven't consulted any physician either... The weird thing with my case is that I encounter dizziness when it happens and I sometimes vomit. The headache doesn't leave me until I sleep and relax my eyes! Pls. reply!


right now i'm trying going to the chiro for this. the next step would be the neurologist. i'm wondering if mine came from going off the medication and then going back on. sadly, mine seems to be getting worse. Sad i don't know what i can do to relieve this, but it's really bothersome to work like this.

i think you can send me a private message with your email address. the forums won't let you post it on here.
|
Related Topics
This Forum This Category All Forums
Jump to:  
New Topic   Reply
Medical Questions -> Health Forums -> Vision and Eye Disorders -> Flashes of Color/light In Vision



We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.