Question
Hi,
I was getting up out of bed in the dark to get something and I noticed a flash of light coming from my left eye, sort of at the side of it, it only happened for a few seconds and then disapeared.At first I thought it was lights from outside, but i wasnt standing near a window and the room was completlely dark. Is this something to be worried about as I told a work colleague and he thought it was quite serious and should be seen to.Is this something I should go to an opticians about?
Thanks
Answer
Not to worry: Getting up quickly in the dark, sometimes stimulates photoreceptors inthe eyes and phosphenes, a retinal chemical, to give a spark or quick flash, This usually dissipates in seconds and is nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if you repeatedly get flashes of light, you should consult an eye doc to examine the retina to make sure it is intact. Hope this helps.
Dr. Ken
