Flash Color Eyes

The flashes of light you may see in your eyes are most likely to be white or sparkly, but colored lights happen, too. The flashes can take many shapes, including: Zigzag lines. Streaks of lightning.

Brief pops like flashbulbs going off. Sparks or flickering lights. Flashes that spin in circles.

Spots or thick lines. White snow or fuzz. Light flashes can happen in one or both of your eyes and have different shapes, colors, frequencies, and duration.

There are many causes for this. Flashing lights in the eyes can have various causes. Find out the complications, risk factors, when to see a healthcare provider, and more.

Flashes of light are pinpricks or spots of light that you see in your field of vision. People often say seeing flashes of light is like seeing "shooting stars" or "lightning streaks." Flashes of light in your vision come from inside your eye. They are not caused by lights or anything else outside of your body.

Seeing occasional flashing lights in your eyes usually isn't an issue. But repeated flashes in the forms of bright spots, streaks of lightening, or shooting stars in the corner of your eye can indicate a serious medical condition. A prompt visit to an ophthalmologist or a retina specialist can prevent permanent vision loss.

Photopsia is a visual phenomenon that causes a person to see floaters, flashes, or flickering lights. These visual disturbances can affect one or both eyes. Brief, repeated flashes that look like camera flashes inside one or both eyes usually mean the retina or optic pathway is being mechanically or electrically stimulated.

Common causes range from harmless vitreous "tugging" to sight-threatening retinal detachment and, less often, migraine aura or brain disorders. Any new, persistent flashing-especially with floaters, shadow, or vision loss. Photopsia is a symptom of several medical conditions that affect the structures inside the eye, the optic nerve, and even the brain.

If symptoms get worse or appear suddenly, get emergency medical attention. Flashes of light in the eye often appear and fade quickly and can appear more frequently as you age. Learn about causes and treatments for photopsia.

The flashes of light may vary in shape, color, frequency, and duration. Flashes of light in the corner of the eye could be due to changes in the eye's structure, which becomes more common with age.