Photopsia: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Photopsia

Retinal Detachment

Early symptoms of rhegmatogenous detachment may include dark or irregular vitreous floaters (particularly a sudden increase), flashes of light (photopsias), and blurred vision [msdmanuals.com]

RESULTS: On initial evaluation, the patient had decreased vision with photopsias and distortion in the affected eye. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Arrange for urgent indirect ophthalmoscopy by an ophthalmologist to diagnose retinal detachment if patients have a sudden increase or change in floaters; photopsias; a curtain [msdmanuals.com]

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Some patients experience continuous photopsia. Systemic Features: The ‘simple’ or nonsyndromal type of RP described here has no systemic features. [disorders.eyes.arizona.edu]

Photopsias may decrease over the years, as scotomas become denser. [institut-vision.org]

Photopsia: RP patients report seeing flashes of light (photopsia) described as small, shimmering, blinking lights or coarse sparkling grains similar to the symptoms of an [institut-vision.org]

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

ICP → damage to structures of the CNS and especially to the optical nerve fibers References: [2] Clinical features Diffuse headaches Visual symptoms Transient vision loss Photopsia [amboss.com]

The presentation is usually with headaches, visual problems (transient or gradual visual loss), pulse-synchronous tinnitus, photopsia and eye pain 15. [radiopaedia.org]

Visual Snow Syndrome

Flashing lights (photopsia). Small "floaters" in the vision field (myodesopsia). Visual effects within the eye (entoptic phenomena). [nvisioncenters.com]

Migraine more often have palinopsia, spontaneous photopsia, photophobia, nyctalopia and tinnitus than those without comorbid migraine. [ichd-3.org]

Around three-quarters of people struggling with visual snow report suffering from three or more of these symptoms: spontaneous photopsia, blue field entoptic phenomenon, myodesopsia [nvisioncenters.com]

Migraine

Photopsia, fortification spectra, and the slow propagation of a scintillating scotoma across the visual field are typical diagnostic features of the visual aura of migraine [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

She reported continuous bright and colorful lights, palinopsia, floaters, nyctalopsia, and photopsia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] symptoms can include a sudden appearance of a bright light in the center of the field of vision causing blind spots (scintillating scotoma), double vision, flashing lights (photopsia [rarediseases.org]

Ophthalmoplegic Migraine

There may be bright spots (often colored, called "photopsia"), jagged lines ("fortification spectra") or wavy lines (like heat lines). [dartmouth.edu]

(arc of scintillating lights in a herring-bone-like pattern) • Negative scotomas (blind spots) • Teichopsia/fortification spectra (luminous appearance before the eyes) • Photopsia [ahcmedia.com]

Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy

It is characterized by photopsia, minimal funduscopic changes, and electroretinographic abnormalities. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The common complaints were slightly reduced visual acuity and photopsia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

RESULTS: Sixteen patients (64%) presented with photopsias, 56% (14/25) with night blindness, and 56% (14/25) with loss of peripheral vision. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Vitreous Floaters

Lightning-like flashes, common in retinal detachment, are called photopsias. Photopsias can also occur when rubbing the eyes or when looking around after awakening. [msdmanuals.com]

Eye pain Loss of red reflex Abnormal retinal findings Retinal detachment is suggested by sudden increases in floaters, photopsias, or any of its other, more specific characteristics [merckmanuals.com]

[…] or eye trauma Eye pain Loss of red reflex Abnormal retinal findings Interpretation of findings Retinal detachment is suggested by sudden increases in floaters, photopsias [merckmanuals.com]

Birdshot Chorioretinopathy

[…] fluid on OCT-EDI (P = .003), and the frequency and severity of photopsias correlated with the thickness of the fluid band (Pearson product moment correlation, 0.39). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] documented case of HLA-A29-positive birdshot chorioretinopathy in an African American patient.Methods:A 51-year-old African American woman presented with a 10-year history of photopsia [scholars.northwestern.edu]

A 51-year-old African American woman presented with a 10-year history of photopsia, progressive decrease in visual acuity, metamorphopsia, and new nyctalopia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Peripheral Vasoproliferative Retinopathy

Patients may present with visual loss, floaters, and/or photopsia. [orpha.net]

[…] tumour exists, which is relatively aggressive and which tends to occur in young females (mean age 19 years).3 Patients tend to present with visual loss, floaters, and/or photopsia [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Floaters, photopsias and metamorphopsia are other common complaints. RVPT usually presents as a solitary mass in the retinal periphery. [scielo.br]

Malignant Choroidal Melanoma

When signs do arise, they consist of visual disturbances such as floaters, decreased visual acuity, photopsia, scotoma, and visual field defects. [symptoma.com]

[…] mets from breast cancer were yellow in color 77% plateau-shaped 65% a/w subretinal fluid Exudation and hemorrhage rare Symptoms: - 75% Blurred vision - 6% Floaters - 5% Photopsias [slideshare.net]

This had been happening for about three weeks; he denied photopsia. [reviewofoptometry.com]

Choroiditis

The patients have photopsias as well. [entokey.com]

Presentation - fourth decade (female:male = 3:1) with blurring of vision, floaters and photopsia. [patient.info]

After 2 months, reduced visual acuity, photopsia and visual field defect in the left eye occurred. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Disorder of the Vitreous Body

In a few people, however, this separation is noticeable immediately due to one or more of the following symptoms: Flashes of light called photopsia Showers of floaters Darkness [my.clevelandclinic.org]

The photopsias tend to be more noticeable in dimly lit environments. [webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu]

Download Fact Sheet Spanish Translation Symptoms in detail The most common symptoms experienced by patients with VMT syndrome are: Decreased sharpness of vision Photopsia, [asrs.org]

Lattice Degeneration of the Retina

Watch the “How vision works” animation Lattice does not typically cause symptoms, but if symptoms occur, they include photopsia, or flashing lights in the patient’s peripheral [maculacenter.com]

Signs & Symptoms The patient is usually over age 20 and is nearly always asymptomatic, except for possible complaints of flashing lights (photopsia). [eyecaretrust.org.uk]

An acute PVD complicated by retinal tear formation usually is signaled by the complaint of new-onset floaters and/or flashing lights (referred to as photopsia) As in all retinal [emedicine.medscape.com]

Retrobulbar Neuritis

Additionally, dyschromatopsia, photopsia and visual field defects may also occur 1. [radiopaedia.org]

[…] sensitivity Color vision Especially red Colors appear washed out Afferent pupillary defect Pupillary light reflex - direct response to light more sluggish in affected eye Photopsias [fprmed.com]

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

Find Photopsia information, treatments for Photopsia and Photopsia symptoms. [centrefellowship.com]

In symptomatic infection, patients may experience various visual disturbances, including floaters, photopsia, narrowed visual fields, blurred vision, and scotoma. [symptoma.com]

In the initial phase of the disease most patients are usually asymptomatic while those with symptoms will complain of floaters, blurred vision, photopsia, scotomas, metamorphopsia [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Disorders of Visual Cortex

At least one of the following: excessive floaters in both eyes, excessive blue field entoptic phenomenon, self-light of the eye, or spontaneous photopsia (Entoptic phenomena [rarediseases.org]

[…] combination) in visual snow, are the blue field entoptic phenomenon, floaters (the perception of which is defined as myodesopsia), self-light of the eye and spontaneous photopsia [rarediseases.org]

[…] looking at homogeneous bright surfaces, such as the blue sky; self-light of the eye is described as colored waves or clouds when closing the eyes in the dark; spontaneous photopsia [rarediseases.org]

Pigmented Paravenous Retinochoroidal Atrophy

Presentation - fourth decade (female:male = 3:1) with blurring of vision, floaters and photopsia. [patient.info]

Photopsias may decrease over the years, as scotomas become denser. [institut-vision.org]

However, unlike this case, loss of visual acuity and photopsia within the scotomata are common ocular symptoms associated with AZOOR patients, and night blindness and progressive [benthamopen.com]

Toxic Retinopathy

Ocular side effects are common with high doses, Decreased vision to photopsias, xanthopsia and scotomas. [slideshare.net]

With progression, symptoms can include blurred vision, decreased vision, scotomas and photopsias. [reviewofophthalmology.com]

Presentation - gradual onset of dimming of the vision and associated shimmering photopsia (flashes of light). [patient.info]

Vitreous Hemorrhage

A variety of conditions can result in blood leaking into the vitreous humor, which can cause impaired vision, floaters, and photopsia. [en.wikipedia.org]

Normal eye movement may cause the vitreous to pull on localized areas of retina causing flashes (photopsias). [centralplainseye.com]

A variety of conditions can result in blood leaking into the vitreous humor, which can cause impaired vision, floaters, and photopsia. What Causes it? [sdhawan.com]

Severe Idiopathic Pneumococcemia

Photopsia always decreased but visual fields did not improve. Six patients experienced recurrence. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Photoallergic response 692.72 Photocoproporphyria 277.1 Photodermatitis (sun) 692.72 light other than sun 692.82 Photokeratitis 370.24 Photo-ophthalmia 370.24 Photophobia 368.13 Photopsia [theodora.com]

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical features of AIBSE include photopsia, visual field defects, abnormal findings from fundoscopic and fluorescein angiography, and abnormal results of [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Choroid Hemorrhage

Presentation - fourth decade (female:male = 3:1) with blurring of vision, floaters and photopsia. [patient.info]

[…] defects Small specks, called floaters, that may be seen moving through one's field of vision is observed in one-third of the individuals Flashes of light in the eye, or photopsia [dovemed.com]

In contrast to the lacquer crack and degenerative myopia, this lesion typically begins in the peripapillary region, with symptoms such as photopsia or enlarged blind spot. [reviewofoptometry.com]

Retinitis Pigmentosa 30

Quite often patients will have a sensation of twinkling or flashes of light, which they describe as small shimmering or blinking lights, called photopsia. 6. [retinitispigmentosatreatment.com]

Also, unlike ophthalmic migraine, the photopsias may be continuous rather than episodic. [entokey.com]

Photopsias may decrease over the years, as scotomas become denser. [institut-vision.org]

Retinitis pigmentosa 40

Photopsias may decrease over the years, as scotomas become denser. [institut-vision.org]

Photopsia: RP patients report seeing flashes of light (photopsia) described as small, shimmering, blinking lights or coarse sparkling grains similar to the symptoms of an [institut-vision.org]

In contrast to ophthalmic migraine, the photopsia in RP is rather continuous than episodic. [institut-vision.org]

Retinal Phlebitis

ACUTE POSTERIOR VITREOUS SEPARATION – RIGHT EYE WITH PERIPHERAL PHOTOPSIAS 2. CHRONIC INTERMEDIATE UVEITIS – RIGHT EYE PROBABLY IDIOPATHIC 3. [retinagallery.com]

The patient denied eye pain, photopsias or headaches. There were no alleviating or exacerbating factors, and she denied similar prior events. [healio.com]

301 Actions Shares 0 Downloads 492 Comments 2 Likes 32 No notes for slide Confirm def. of angiitis most often manifests as a gradual, painless loss of vision, Floaters, Photopsia [slideshare.net]

Retinitis

Some patients experience continuous photopsia. Systemic Features: The ‘simple’ or nonsyndromal type of RP described here has no systemic features. [disorders.eyes.arizona.edu]

Photopsias may decrease over the years, as scotomas become denser. [institut-vision.org]

Photopsia: RP patients report seeing flashes of light (photopsia) described as small, shimmering, blinking lights or coarse sparkling grains similar to the symptoms of an [institut-vision.org]

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Early symptoms of rhegmatogenous detachment may include dark or irregular vitreous floaters (particularly a sudden increase, flashes of light (photopsias), and blurred vision [msdmanuals.com]

Small detachments typically present with photopsia, floaters, and/or visual field defects. [amboss.com]

Arrange for urgent indirect ophthalmoscopy by an ophthalmologist to diagnose retinal detachment if patients have a sudden increase or change in floaters; photopsias; a curtain [msdmanuals.com]

Cancer-Associated Retinopathy

Patients with anti-recoverin retinopathy present with symptoms of night blindness, photopsias, loss of peripheral or pericentral visual field, reduced central acuity, and [orpha.net]

A 62-year-old female patient presented to our clinic complaining of a 2 month history of shimmering photopsias and floaters. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Patients with anti-enolase retinopathy experience varying degrees of central or pericentral visual field loss, shimmering photopsias, loss of color vision, reduced vision [orpha.net]

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Photopsias are caused by physical stimulation of the retina from vitreoretinal traction. [eyewiki.aao.org]

Photopsia (an ocular flash) occurs if the separation exerts traction on the retina. [patient.info]

Common symptoms of retinal tears include: Sudden onset of black spots or ‘floaters’ in your field of vision Photopsia (flashes of light) in one or both eyes Blurred vision [austinretina.com]

Vitreous Degeneration

[…] floater that is sometimes seen if the vitreous body releases from the back of the eye When this occurs there is a characteristic pattern of symptoms: Flashes of light ( photopsia [en.wikipedia.org]