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What Causes Flashes In The Peripheral Vision Of The Left Eye?

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Posted on Wed, 5 Oct 2016
Question: I am experiencing periodic "lightning"-like flashes in the peripheral vision of my left eye.
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Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Might be vitreous Detachment

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the question.
At your age the crystalline liquid called Vitreous that fills the back of the eye(s) will start liquefying slowly and contract. At some point it would not longer be able to fill the entire eye ball causing it to shrink. As some places where it is losely attached to the retina of the eye it starts to move forward, this is called vitreous detachment. This is a normal and common process in elderly. However it may lead to retinal detachment as well, in such a case it can lead to vision loss.

So it is very important and urgent to check with an Ophthalmologist if retinal detachment is also occuring along with viterous shrinking.

Please let me know if you have further queries.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
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Follow up: Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (4 hours later)
Thank you !
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Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (30 hours later)
Brief Answer:
close and rate our discussion

Detailed Answer:
I am glad that my opinion was informative and was acknowledge the importance of the situation. I shall be available for follow ups.

Please close and rate our discussion here
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. V. N. S. Parinam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1727 Questions

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What Causes Flashes In The Peripheral Vision Of The Left Eye?

Brief Answer: Might be vitreous Detachment Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for the question. At your age the crystalline liquid called Vitreous that fills the back of the eye(s) will start liquefying slowly and contract. At some point it would not longer be able to fill the entire eye ball causing it to shrink. As some places where it is losely attached to the retina of the eye it starts to move forward, this is called vitreous detachment. This is a normal and common process in elderly. However it may lead to retinal detachment as well, in such a case it can lead to vision loss. So it is very important and urgent to check with an Ophthalmologist if retinal detachment is also occuring along with viterous shrinking. Please let me know if you have further queries.