Answer

Hello,

Flashing lights that appear in front of the eyes are usually due to spasm of the retinal blood vessels or pull on the retina by floaters. The floaters are small deposits in the vitreus humor of the eyes - the vitreus humor is a white transparent jelly that helps to keep the shape of the eyeball and which is present between the retina and the front of the eyes.

As a person grows older, some of the cells of the vitreus humor clump together - the person sees these as floaters. They look like strings or dots foating in fron of the eye.

Sometimes the floaters may be accompanied by flashing lights - these are usually due to spasm of the retinal blood vessels. Or they they may occur when the thickened vitreus gel pulls on the retina.

Please consult an ophtalmologist for a checkup. If the retina gets pulled suddenly you may get a torn retina - a potentially bad complication.

For more on floaters and flashes of light, please see:

- http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/floaters.html

I hope this helps.

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Expert:	DR.Das.MD
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Answered:	2/9/2007

Doctor (MD)

Wide experience in all aspects of medical treatment, including cancer therapy.