Has anyone ever had the experience of seeing what appears to be zigzag lightning flashes in either eye? I get these every once in a while and they do go away on their own but can be scary until you realize you are not going blind. I think the scariest thing I had happen to my eyes is to see only half of an image clearly. For example using either eye with the other covered, I could look at an open book and the page on the left side was clear and the page on the right was so blurred I couldn't read it. This is by holding the eye still and not looking at one page and then the other. Anyone else ever had that happen. I was told that it was a happening in the brain and not the eye itself. I went to a neurologist but he found nothing. The condition lasted most of a day.
I have had this happen to me on several occasions and I made an appointment with my eye doctor right away each time. I am female, 52 years old, highly myoptic with a family history of detached retina (mother and aunt).
My eye doctor checked me and told me one time that I had a migrane without the headache, although I did feel rather light headed most of the day. The last time that this happened was about a year ago and my eye doctor checked my eye and found out that my vitreous sac had shrunk and detached inside my eye which is a normal aging process.
Your problem could be one of these 2 situations. I know that it can be alarming when it happens and you should see your eye doctor and have it checked. If it is a detached retina, you need to have it operated on right away. My parents were vacationing in Florida when my mother's retina detached and there was no time to return home to Canada. She had to have emergency surgery in Orlando or she would have lost the sight in that eye.
Hope that there is a simple answer to your problem. I would make and appointment with an eye doctor just to be sure.
The zig-zag 'light' I see is similar to watching a lighted ferris wheel and the light goes around the perimeter of whatever I'm looking at. It is not always too noticible in bright daylight, but when I close my eyes, all I see is dark or course, with the lights revolving. Usually along with this comes blurred vision right in the centre of sight. Not long after this takes place, I get a very bad headache which can last for a day or more, even if I take medication for it.
This phenomenon started about 15 years ago, during a time when I was under a lot of stress at work, plus I had recently been diagnosed as being HIV+. I thought the problem could be related to the strong drugs I was taking for the HIV. The symptoms I described to the specialists lead them to believe that it was related to migraines (which I had never had before) and they did scans, blood tests etc. Migraine medication was prescribed and the next time these symptoms occurred, I took the meds prescribed. That led to an anxiety attack. Needless to say I threw that medication out.
Ever since that time, I have taken Tylenol or Advil immediately if I notice the blurred vision or the lightning. This appears to work and I don't get a migraine or if I do get a headache, it does go away in a short time.
At times, I have noticed that drinking red wine on an empty stomach, or eating Chinese food with MSG can trigger these symptoms. Also using the PC for long periods of time and concentrating on doing something or times of stress can trigger this. At other times, there appears to be no reason for it.
I have experienced the same thing from the age of 10 to 25. I had a certain kind the chiropractic adjustment called a cervical toggle recoil, which has relieved my zig-zag effects. I am know 41 years old and its has only happen 3 times since than.
I'm sitting here in shock...that I found this forum.
I have seen the lightening "zig zag" pattern, in fact it was just a few weeks ago. It was difficult to think, disoriented when it was happening and I also experienced a severe headache afterwards.
I thought it was some sort of vitamin/nutrient deficiency. It was a scary experience and it has happened before. I never did have it checked out.
Well, here's hoping we will find out what it means.
I sometimes experience your problem, I asked by opticiants but they all agreed I do not have anything wrong- like retina problems etc- but it happenes because of me being short sighted. I have -5. and they all say this is the reason. It happened to me 5 times by now, from 18 to 36....and it was always related to bright light. It lasted for 5 minutes the most. Hope I helped.
I have this problem and like a few of the others I have noticed light sets it off. If I go in department store with fluresent lights can do it of even pictures on internet if there to trick your eyes like there moving that has done it. My father has maculatedegenerate (sp) so some thought I might have that. But doctors have found nothing. It is scary at times because some are worse than others. It can be so bad you can't see well at all. If driving I just have to pull over. Been in stores and had to leave becasue could not see right at all. I am going to write down what some of you have heard it may be .. nice knowing your not crazy and others have this. Mine happens all the time and started after a spinal cord injury and then surgey. Had 5 total surgeys gotten worse after each one. Getting ready for number 6. Hope to learn more, this drives me crazy. Also tears will run from eyes allot not sure if its to do with this or not??? Thanks all for your comments ..
Hello, I have had the same experience with the flashes of light...especially at night when I have to get up for any reason...I have been to four eye doctors and they find nothing wrong....but I did get help for this by taking a zinc supplement every day....if I miss a day they come back, but as long as I take it they go away. Thanks
The first time I experienced the "ferris wheel...crystaline...pretty colors...kleidescope" in both eyes, I was 40ish. Late in the evening, I went straight to be with a cloth over my eyes and remained still(??) until morning. By then it was gone, but I went on to my optamoligist (where is spell check!). I was very concerned about detached retina. He checked my eyes thoroughly and said most likely it was an occular hemmoraege. I've had them periodically...usually when I'm working yard etc, but many times when I've taken a direct hit from the sun. No side effects whatsoever..........60 yrs now....have the little floaters too...doc said the eyes sluff off "trash" every now and then....harmless.
I'm new member. So glad I found curezone...thanks to all
Billie
hi...I styarted having what i call computer like..lightening in my eyes.......i know when its coming..because I feel strange..light headed....then slowly but surely...a zig zaggy line appears.usually on the right....extending over to the left...slightly...and if I close my eyes..I can defined staright lines...with crayola colors..inside them...as if someone took a ruler and drew the lines...ever so close making triangular shapes...of all sizes and variations.....it will encompass about 1/4 of my sight..and cause my right arm to ..not be in my sight.
I was diagnosed to have accular migranes......a bit of dark room and eye close..... for about an hour...takes it away.
jean
So glad to find this info on lightning flashes in the eye! I got my first one on a super-stressful day a couple of weeks ago, while Xmas shopping. It's recurred many, many times since then, always as a backward "C" shape at the far edge of my right visual field.
It's nothing like what I call "the jaggies"--a classic migraine aura composed of neatly stepped zig-zags. It's exactly like a miniature lightning flash--white-light and very randomly jagged. It's recurred daily since then, but I've had no other visual problems or headaches associated with it. It's just scary to have something that anomalous happening in my eye, since I'm an artist.
The same day I had the first one, I also had a sudden increase in floaters in that eye, but have been too busy traveling to get myself to a doctor for an exam. I'm planning on doing so this week though, since I'm 61 and diabetic and just want someone to have a look at that eye.
I've had this experience before as well. Sort of like a bright zig zag line in my line of vision. At first it starts out small, then slowly grows as a curved line zig zagging through my field of vision. First it starts in one eye. Then maybe both. Accompanied by a headache later. For the few hours it happens it's difficult to look at a computer screen and do any work. As the day goes on you won't even be able to write a check or see much. I've only had it happen a few times. First time I was sitting in dentists chair for a long time. Another day once in my early twenties I was under an extreme amount of stress. I'm no doctor but I have to say it's some sort of stress related issue. I also used to think it was a signifier of extreme changes in blood pressure, but again I am not a doctor. All I know is, it can't be a good thing, an it happens to me, I sit down and try to relax, and take an aspirin.
I have experienced the jagged lightning flash lines in the eye off & on. It starts out like a jagged C shaped line, along that line the vision is blurred. Mine lasts about 5-10 minutes, hen it goes away. No headache.
I was told by the eye doctor that the inner liquid in the eye drys out over time and shifts, causing this effect. He didn't say it was serious.
I just started getting these last week. I recently went back to reading books instead of watching TV
Seems like what several people have described as a migraine without the headache. It lasts 5-10 minutes and then for an hour or so there is a kind of weirdness that's not a headache but feels like (dunno any other way to explain it) a headache without the pain.
I also have experienced these bright colorful lines in my peripheral vision , they started about 10 years ago and only lasted about 15 or 20 mins my vision would get very blurred and it was nearly impossible to read anything and I never got a head ache but def felt lightheaded and slightly nauseated. I don't get them very often but they sure do suck !! it starts out as a small squiggly line but this last one was bad as it circled 3/4 of the way around my outer vision circle and I couldn't see worth a damn. im glad you all posted this stuff as now I understand whats going on . ( I do think its stress related as well )
Like many others, I was told by my neurologist that it was a migraine without the headache. Migraines run in the family, so it seemed an acceptable answer to me. They usually fade within a few hours, sometimes after seriously impairing my sight.
One thing I've found that banishes them quickly when necessary (such as for driving) is benadryl (the blue decongestant variety - unsure about the pink antihistamine one) believe it or not. I think it may relieve sinus or other pressure that contributes to a migraine, though I've never heard that about migraines from a doctor. It's just a guess, but it works for me.
Don't know if this will help, but the first time I had them, I thought it might have something to do with a stroke or something. I took 2 regular aspirin which I rarely ever take and they went away in about 20 min. Now every time it happens I take 2 aspirin and they go away in 15 or 20 min.
I am a senior and have had the flashes for about a year and only randomly.
They go away after about 15 -20 minutes.
Taking the aspirin may or may not help as they don't last.
I was also informed that they were a form of painless migraine
which is the best kind i would guess.
After reading the other blogs I guess this is pretty common. I will have to check out the drying of eye fluid with my eye doctor. sounds like some are more severe to others than mine
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