Sudden onset of flashing lights in peripheral vision in dark situations.

I just started noticing these flashes and have just turned 60.

Low grade panic motivated a search leading me to this page.

I now suspect that it is age related, cushion gel oriented and likely from screen reading, almost always the same level of sight.

I will certainly talk to my doctor about this.

I’m a 49 y.o. male and I had these flickering/flashy lights at 3 instances that I can narrow down: first time it happened, when I started continuously using a product containing a Ginkgo Biloba - about 4 years ago.
The second time – about 5 months ago, when I started drinking a combination of chamomile tea with Peppermint Harvest’s “Tripple Mint Zing” tea (supermarket variety) – strange, but true.
And just last night I tried a new, all-natural beef-base soup starter called “Better Than Bouillon”.

After dropping the Ginko Biloba supplement, the sensations stopped.
After dropping the Tripple Mint Zing tea, but continuing with chamomile, it also stopped, pointing at the Peppermint tea as a supposed culprit.
And as for the bouillon-soup starter, it was my first time using it, and naturally, it will be my last, as I attribute the sensations to its use.

Each time, it was a pretty scary sensation, with flickering shiny lights and reduced peripheral vision, making you unable to see the objects around you. It was similar to watching reflections on a shiny pond on a windy day.
I didn’t realize that everything we look at, we sort of “photograph” and keeps it in our memory for a split second. In my case there was nothing to “photograph” and I couldn’t see the silhouettes of the objects around me, making me panic, while causing problems with balance, as there was no visual “confirmation” on the subjects around me, making me rely on central vision only. I thought it was predominantly in my left eye, where I have an astigmatism. Closing or opening the eye had no effect on the severity of the sensations, but looking at a light made it more prominent. It lasted about 7-10 minutes, but scared me out of my wits, a V-E-E-E-RY scary sensation.
Took the blood pressure and it was around 150/118, hinting at some blood vessels spasm. It’s funny, but I happened to measure my BP just a minute before these awful sensations in the eyes started - and it was normal 119/79.
The peppermint tea and the soup starter, both had similarities – each had some “natural flavors” in its ingredients.
So, I’m thinking, these episodes may not always be due to a definite or illusory medical condition, but could be easily associated with some foods/additives that trigger them. Wonder if anyone else had similar observations..?!

I had exactly the same flashing light as you had....im on just one medication - Phenytoin for the last 12 years......... im confused wether it is brain related ot eye related..... the opthaologist said i needed to do a barrage laser and im scared........ and im 34......long way to go to 60.......

I had my first experience with the flashing lights last night. I was/am frightened. But I am also comforted to know that others have had this experience and it is a recognized health problem.  I very much appreciate the people who posted their experiences in this forum.

Thank you.

my doc told me that eye doctors are not concerned if they are only at night or in the dark but the sudden onset of floaters or flashing lights should be investigated by a specialist. ...so i am going tomorrow

im 17 and this happens to me i always feel things moving in my eyes and ears and flashing in the sides of my vision when i go into the dark i just had umbilical hernia repair and my appendix removed and im still not feeling right iv ben sick for a very long time i feel so unhealthy idk why im here just waiting to die

In my late sixties I experienced several episodes of flashing lights covering both eyes that would last twenty to twenty five min..  I was told by a friend who had experienced the same thing that it was an ocular migrane.  My Dr seemed to agree.  I now have the flashing lights in my left perf. vision at night and in the last nine to ten months have been experiencing double and somewhat blured vision.  I am now 73 yrs old and an seeing a cardiologist for irregular heart beat (tacky brady syndrome) and he suspects that I may have had a mild stroke which caused the vision problem, have had an brain MRI and am waiting for the results.

 

 

Can't believe how many of you described exactly what happened to me today when driving home from work..on left side..thought it was rflections in side view mirror. Later when home I was in my bedroom in the dark and the flashes were there again..left side..and when i closed my eyes and moved my ehad up and down they wee still there. I am 58, healthy, no meds. Must google PVD..

I was playing a computer game tonight and I suddenly noticed a blurred spot in only my right eye and a minute later it included a large, shimmering, multicolored, kaleidoscope shape on the right periphery. The shape was very colorful and very much like a piece of modern art as it rotated and twisted its pattern. The initial blurred spot was like having a floater directly in front of what I was looking at. I tried to rub my eye thinking I had gotten something in it. I had to see with my right peripheral to look at anything. This all lasted about 10-15 mins total. When it happened, I went to my dark bedroom and laid down and it went away. It was visible with closed  or open eyes. This also happened to me about 10 years ago. It  was very similar except the visual shape was larger and wasn't just in my peripheral vision. At that time,the shape was like that of a fetish polar bear and the outline  of it was of a varying , complex very colorful pattern. The closest medical description I can find about it is "photopsia".  I initially went to an eye Dr at the time and he said there was nothing wrong. I am 57 , in good health and take no medication except IB occasionally. I think I'll go to the eye Dr again tomorrow morning before work. What the heck.

I just turned 20 a little over a week ago. Last night while I was laying in bed I noticed I could see flashing lights, like someone was pointing a strobe light at me when my eyes were closed. I noticed it again tonight in my right eye so I opened my eyes and I could still see the flashing. I hope it's nothing serious.

I have the same problem and I'm 15 but when I sleep and wake up it goes away.

im 13 i get that too but only at night i see purple and green though but it has never happened in the day when i closed 1 eye ican still see it in both if i close both eyes i can see it in my eylids ............ HELP only just got the courage to tell my mum :) thanks

See you eye doctor right away for an eye exam..I had to have laser surgery (fast and simple) to repair the holes in my retina.

I have been experiencing this for years and the diagnosis from the neurologist was that is was migraine headaches. It is possible to have the light flashes or loss of vision or both without the pain. So many things can contribute to this. Additives and preservatives are a big one for me. this means prepared foods, pop, chocolate, deli meats are off of the menu. Eat more fresh foods anthwart h the MSG in your foohelps hope you all find that this helps.

 

I also just experienced a sudden flash in left peripheral vision at night. Was concerned when it was still there in the next morning. But I've learned over the years that most problems that crop up tend to take care of themselves in time, so I ignored the problem and headed up to the mountains for a leisurely 7 hour hike of about 10 miles; it was a good workout with a lot of elevation change. Some time during the drive to the mountains the flashing went away, had no problems in the higher elevations, and I have not had a problem since (at least for the time being...).

It was interesting to read that someone found a correlation with drinking peppermint herbal tea and that additives might be a problem. I am not sure, but I may have had some peppermint tea just before bedtime the night I experienced the flashing light problem. (I am in my early 60s, fit, in excellent health, and take no medications.) At any rate, it's really good to know that I am not alone in this! Thank you, everyone, for your helpful comments.