eye health Archives | Specialty Eye Institute

Why Am I Seeing Flashes Of Light In The Corner Of My Eye?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re going about your day—running errands, grocery shopping, taking care of yard work—when you suddenly see flashing lights in the corner of your eye that take you by surprise. You know it wasn’t a camera flash or a strike of lightning, but you’re not sure how to explain the phenomenon. To your luck, there’s a medical explanation for seeing flashing lights in the corner of your eyes.

Let’s explore the vision-related causes of these flashing lights and floaters in the eye along with when you need to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor.

Why Am I Seeing Flashes of Light in the Corner of My Eye?

Don’t worry – this is a common phenomenon that most people experience in their lifetime. Both seeing floaters and flashes of light in the corner of your eye are a result of shrinking vitreous. The vitreous is fluid in the back of the eye that protects the retina and helps the eye maintain its shape.

As your eyes’ vitreous supply naturally diminishes as they age, floaters drift in front of the retina—effectively blocking your field of vision. Dust-like floaters appear differently for everyone, and anyone can experience them as they age. People in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are most likely to experience floaters in their vision. However, other factors such as diabetes, nearsightedness, and past eye swelling issues can increase your risk of developing the eye condition.

Both flashing lights and floaters affect the retina. The retina’s job is to process light that enters your eye and then send that information to your brain. The vitreous is attached to the retina by small fibers. The friction that occurs on these fibers can lead to flashing lights in the eye.

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Vision-Related Causes of Flashing Lights in the Eye

This friction in the eye can be caused by a few different factors, and not all are vision-related. Health conditions such as migraines and diabetes along with medications can create flashing lights in the eyes.

Four main vision-related conditions cause flashing lights to appear. Take a look at what those conditions are, what causes them, and what their effects are:

1. Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Posterior vitreous detachment is one of the more common vision-related causes of flashing lights and floaters in the eye. As you age, the vitreous can detach. If this detachment occurs suddenly, the resulting friction can cause floaters and flashing lights to appear in the corner of your eye. This condition occurs naturally in people over the age of 40. While it cannot be prevented, it can be treated.

Learn more about the Symptoms and Causes of Vitreous Detachment.

2. Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis is a disorder of the optic nerve that causes swelling and inflammation. The swelling and inflammation can cause flashing lights in the eye and even lead to vision loss or blindness. Other common symptoms include eye redness, blurred vision, double vision, and headaches.

3. Retina Pressure

Excess pressure on the retina can result in flashing lights appearing in one or both of your eyes. The pressure can be caused by rubbing your eyes, coughing too hard, or getting bumped or hit on the head. Additional symptoms include dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and sore or burning eyes.

4. Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a condition in which the retina detaches from the underlying tissue in the back of the eye. When this detachment occurs, flashing lights may begin to appear in the eye. Other symptoms include scarring and swelling of the eye. Retinal detachment can be caused by injury due to trauma or inflammation, aging, and underlying eye disease. Since retinal detachment can lead to partial or total vision loss, it should be treated immediately.

Learn More About Eye Anatomy & The Different Parts of The Eye

When You Need To See an Eye Doctor for Flashing Lights in the Eye

Catching a quick flash of light in your vision now and then isn’t usually a big deal. But if you start noticing bright spots, streaks like lightning, or bursts of light off to the side more often, it could be a sign of something more serious going on with your eyes. While eye floaters are not hereditary, retinal tears and detachment can be. Since both eye floaters and flashing lights in the corner of your eyes result from retinal detachment, consult your eye doctor if you begin experiencing either phenomenon.

You should also see an eye doctor if you experience:

Blurry vision
Darkening vision
Vision loss
Dizziness
An eye injury
An increase in seeing flashing lights
An increase in seeing floaters
Frequent ocular migraines
Vision changes

Schedule an appointment today with an expert ophthalmologist to get an accurate diagnosis regarding the cause of flashing lights and floaters and to receive a customized treatment plan.

Expert Eye Care at Specialty Eye Institute

When it’s time to visit an eye doctor to discuss the floaters and flashing lights in your vision, go to the experts at Specialty Eye Institute. Our team of ophthalmologists and eye doctors will accurately diagnose your condition and provide a treatment plan designed for your unique vision needs.

We offer treatments for retinal detachments that can be performed in-office—such as laser retinal detachment surgery and retinal cryopexy. We use the most advanced equipment and techniques to perform these procedures, which enables us to produce optimal vision results for our patients.

Find a Specialty Eye Institute doctor at one of our convenient locations in Michigan or Ohio to receive the professional eye care you deserve. Schedule your appointment online or by calling 877-852-8463 today.

Supplements & Vitamins for Macular Degeneration

Our eyesight is a precious function that many of us take for granted. While sitting in the doctor’s office may not be something you enjoy doing, a yearly visit with your ophthalmologist is a great way to protect your vision from degenerative eye disease. Supplements and vitamins are used for slowing or stopping the progression of macular degeneration in older adults. Macular degeneration is the most common eye disease. If you are 55 years or older, your ophthalmologist should examine your eyes every year as early diagnosis is the key to a successful treatment plan.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

There are many risk factors for macular degeneration such as heredity and age, smoking, high blood pressure, and vitamin-deficient diets.

The two types of macular degeneration are wet and dry. Both will lead to loss of vision if they are not diagnosed and treated aggressively. For more information on risk levels and the types of macular degeneration, contact your ophthalmologist.

If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, you are not alone. While macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness, it is also treatable. Depending on your level of degeneration and your adherence to a treatment plan, you can slow the development of macular degeneration for many years.

Supplements for Macular Degeneration

There are many treatments available for macular degeneration patients, and your specific treatment options will depend on the type, stage, and personal medical history.

Remember, your ophthalmologist is a trained professional, so regardless of the treatment recommended, following it closely is imperative to maintaining your vision. The first step to stopping or slowing the spread of macular degeneration is adjusting your diet to include supplements to improve your health. Here is a list of the most common changes for your diet:

1. Zinc and Antioxidants

After years of research, studies have shown that taking supplements with high levels of zinc and antioxidants may help slow the progression of macular degeneration. Your ophthalmologist will recommend the right type and dosage of these supplements. If you are at risk of developing macular degeneration or are concerned about this condition, ensure your daily multivitamin contains these vital nutrients.

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2. Other Vitamins and Minerals

In addition to zinc and antioxidants, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a daily supplement with high doses of vitamins C and E, copper, and zeaxanthin. This regimen is based on recent findings that suggest these supplements may stop or slow the progression of intermediate dry macular degeneration from advancing to wet macular degeneration, the stage when loss of vision occurs.

3. Eye-Healthy Foods

While supplements are the most common treatment for macular degeneration, remember that simply taking a daily vitamin will not prevent or slow the progression of this destructive disease.

Ophthalmologists also recommend, in addition to daily supplements, eating a diet rich in nutrients that promote healthy eye function and slow the advancement of macular degeneration. When choosing fruits and vegetables, choose colorful vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens like spinach and kale.

Preventing Macular Degeneration

Your best defense against developing a degenerative eye disease is to practice preventative measures, so macular degeneration will not be a threat to your eyesight. Regular eye exams and tools like the Amsler Grid test can help detect any changes in the retina and macula. Our staff of ophthalmologists provides dependable eye care solutions such as macular degeneration treatments, cataract surgery, dry eye treatments, LASIK eye surgery, and presbyopia treatments. Yearly examinations with our team of ophthalmologists will verify that your eyes are healthy. If they’re not, yearly exams allow for early detection of eye degeneration.

We’ll help you to utilize the many treatments, supplements, and vitamins for macular degeneration if this condition affects you. Our team of ophthalmologists offers eye treatment options in areas of Michigan and Ohio such as Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Bryan, and Toledo. Schedule an appointment online or call us at (877) 852-8463.

Dilated Pupils: What Is It, Causes, & Treatments

Dilated pupils (also known as mydriasis) are a natural and common reaction to many situations and will usually go away on their own. However, when they’re sudden, are seemingly triggered for no reason, or don’t go away on their own, there can be an underlying cause for them that could require medical attention.

Let’s discuss what dilated pupils are, what they can be caused by when you should worry about them, and what treatment options are available.

What Are Dilated Pupils?

Pupils are the part of your eye that lets light into your eyes to help you see clearly. They’re controlled by the muscles in your iris, which is the colored part of your eye. The normal pupil size for an adult varies from 2 mm to 8 mm, depending on the amount of light exposure.

Dilated pupils occur when your pupils widen. There are natural causes that can cause this, but the effects will always be temporary. If your dilated pupils linger, you should get your eyes checked to find out the underlying reason.

Natural Responses Leading to Dilated Pupils

Pupils are constantly changing in size in response to the amount of light they’re taking in.

They normally dilate in low-light conditions to let more light into the eye. They will also constrict in conditions with higher levels of light to minimize the amount of light that enters the eye.

Comparison of blue eye with dilated pupils vs. constricted pupils.

Causes of Dilated Pupils

There are also unnatural causes that could cause your pupils to dilate. In these cases, consulting with a professional is recommended.

Medications and Drugs

A variety of medications cause dilated pupils by interfering with the muscle function in the iris that controls the pupil’s size.

Some of these medications include:

Antihistamines, like Benadryl
Muscle relaxants, like Lioresal
Decongestants, like Sudafed
Parkinson’s medications, like Symmetrel
Antidepressants, like Norpramin
Illicit drugs like LSD or cocaine

When checked by a healthcare professional, they can determine if the cause of your dilated pupils is a medication you’re taking.

Eye Injuries

Trauma to the brain or eye can cause dilated pupils. Typically, blunt closed trauma damages the iris sphincter muscle, or one of the pathways in the brain that controls it. These injuries can also cause bleeding inside the skull, which can make your pupils enlarge.

Eye injuries can also be caused by:

Retinal procedures, like retinal detachment surgery, diabetic retinopathy surgery, and macular hole surgery
Intraocular surgery, like cataract removal or a corneal transplant

Medical Conditions

Dilated pupils can also be caused by several medical conditions, such as:

Aneurysm in the brain
Brain tumor or abscess
Excess pressure in one eye caused by glaucoma
Acute stroke
Intracranial hemorrhage
Brain swelling
Infection of membranes around the brain
Increased intracranial pressure
Intracranial tumor
Migraine headache
Seizure
Tomor, moss, or lymph node in the upper chest or lymph node
Diabetic oculomotor nerve palsy
Horner syndrome
Benign episodic unilateral mydriasis
Adie’s pupil
Congenital aniridia

When to Worry About Dilated Pupils

If you have an unexplained change in pupil size and it’s not going away, reach out to your healthcare provider. This is particularly true if they started suddenly, are recent, or happened after an injury to your head or eye.

If you have these symptoms along with dilated pupils, get medical treatment immediately:

Eye sensitivity to light
Blurred vision
Double vision
Headache
Fever
Loss of vision
Eye pain
Nausea or vomiting
Stiff neck

Treatments for Dilated Pupils

In most cases, dilated pupils are a natural response that will go away on their own. However, if they continue to linger, a healthcare professional may recommend further treatment. The treatment can vary depending on the underlying cause of your dilated pupils.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses, particularly sunglasses with polarized lenses, can help alleviate discomfort and sensitivity to light caused by dilated pupils. They’ll reduce the amount of light entering your eyes, providing relief in environments where bright lights exacerbate your sensitivity to light.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation can be used as a treatment if the abuse of substances is the underlying cause of your dilated pupils.

Treatment programs for substance abuse typically involve:

Medication
Counseling
Therapy
Support groups

These programs are utilized to reduce your dependence on the substances that are causing your pupil dilation.

Contact Lenses

Prosthetic contact lenses are specialized lenses that are used to manage eye conditions that cause issues in the appearance of your eyes. For dilated pupils, they are used to cosmetically address pupil size unevenness or irregularities. These lenses are custom-made to match the appearance of your natural eyes and help improve the symmetry and aesthetics of your eyes when there are visible discrepancies in your pupils.

Surgery

Though uncommon, surgery can be used as a treatment for dilated pupils when the underlying cause requires surgical intervention.

These circumstances could include:

Eye Trauma: Severe eye injuries that affect the muscles controlling your pupils’ size and response may require surgical intervention to restore your normal pupil function.
Nerve Damage: Conditions like a third nerve palsy, where the nerve controlling the pupil’s movement is affected, may require surgical repair to address the underlying cause or to correct the muscle or nerve function.
Certain Eye Disorders: In rare cases, specific eye disorders that cause abnormal pupil dilatation could require surgical management or treatment to address the issue.

Act Now on Pupil Changes for Optimal Eye Health

If you have dilated pupils that have no explanation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our reliable team at Specialty Eye Institute. We offer comprehensive eye care that can find out the underlying cause, as well as the best way to treat them.

We are committed to offering exceptional service and treatment every time you come in. At Specialty Eye Institute, we pride ourselves on following our four core values:

Patient-Centered Advocate
Excellence
Integrity
Compassion

Call Us Today or schedule an appointment on our website.

Common Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eye is an extremely common condition that can cause a lot of discomfort. Dry eye symptoms can be triggered by a huge variety of causes, which is why it’s important to address them with a professional as soon as you first start feeling the symptoms.

Let’s discuss what dry eye is, what symptoms you need to look for, what causes it, and how it can be treated.

What You Should Know About Dry Eye

Dry eye is a condition that affects your tear film, which consists of three layers of tears that cover and protect the surface of your eyes. To be able to see clearly and comfortably, you need a stable and smooth tear film. If there are any disruptions in your tear film, it can cause itching, burning, blurred or watering vision.

These are the symptoms of dry eye to look out for:

Feeling sensitive to light
Mucus that comes out of your eye
Blurred or changed vision
Burning or stinging
Watery eyes

The Most Common Causes of Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye can be difficult to find the root cause of because there are so many complex risk factors that can trigger it. It’s essential to see a professional who will be able to assist you in finding the underlying cause, as some of them can be serious and need immediate attention.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Meibomian gland dysfunction is a group of disorders that are linked by functional abnormalities of the meibomian glands. It can lead to altered tear film composition, ocular surface disease, and evaporative dry eye.

Medications

There are certain medications that have a side effect of dry eye.

These include:

Tranquilizers
Antihistamines
Certain Heart Medications
Diuretics
Birth Control Pills
Ulcer Medications

Autoimmune Conditions

Dry eye is often associated with autoimmune conditions.

You may find yourself with dry eye if you have:

Sjogren’s Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus
Scleroderma
Grave’s Disease
Diabetes

Impact of Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses can dry your eyes out because the thin layer of contact lens material on your cornea limits oxygen flow to the eyes. Without a steady flow of oxygen, it’s more difficult for your eyes to create natural tears.

Hormone Changes

Hormonal changes can cause dry eye, especially in women after menopause and during pregnancy. The changing levels of estrogen and progesterone can affect the meibomian gland, leading to dryness and irritation.

Allergies

Dry eye is common with allergies because the allergic reaction causes inflammation in the area of the eye that can reduce tear production.

Treatment Options for Dry Eye

TearCare at Specialty Eye Institute

TearCare is a wearable eyelid technology that offers lasting relief from chronic dry eye caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

Your eye doctor will place flexible eyelid devices on the contours of your eyelids, fitting them to the unique shape. Combined with SmartLid technology and eye blinking, the device applies low heat to unclog the meibomian glands and increase your meibum production. This procedure will be repeated each year or biannually until the ideal tear production is achieved.

This pain-free, open-eye procedure is:

Non-invasive
FDA-approved
Takes 15 minutes or less

Artificial Tear Drops

Artificial tear drops are the most common type of treatment. You will need to find the right product for you and apply it regularly, even when your eyes feel fine. If your eyes dry out at night, you will want to consider a thicker product, like an ointment.

Temporal Punctal Occlusion

Temporal punctal occlusion is when your doctor closes the punctum, which is the duct that drains tears from your eye. Typically, they will start with a temporary plug that is designed to dissolve over time to see if a permanent plug is right for you.

Nondissolving Punctal Plugs and Punctal Occlusion By Cautery

If your temporary plugs help your condition, your doctor may choose to insert a longer-lasting plug or a procedure called cautery. With cautery, a special tool will be used to burn the opening for your duct shut to create a permanent plug through the scar.

Testosterone cream

Dry eye symptoms can be related to a lack of testosterone in the oil glands on your eyelids. In this case, your doctor may give you testosterone cream to apply to your eyelids to help your oil glands function better.

Get Dry Eye Relief From Specialty Eye Institute

Are you suffering from dry eye? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team at Specialty Eye Institute. When it comes to eye health, it’s crucial to find care that you can rely on. We’re here to help, whether you need dry eye treatment, more serious procedures like a corneal transplant, or just a routine eye exam.

We are utterly dedicated to providing exceptional service and treatment each and every time you visit. At Specialty Eye Institute, our core values include:

Patient-Centered Advocate
Excellence
Integrity
Compassion

Don’t hesitate with your eye health. Call Us Today or schedule an appointment on our website.