Photopsia Meaning, Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Eye disorders and infections are considered dangerous. No doubt, most of the visual disorders are not lethal but these are associated with great loss such as vision. Photopsia is a condition which is associated with the development of light flash in the eyes. Basically, it is a disorder caused by a combination of various eye issues.

  • Migraine aura with headache.
  • Migraine with aura and no headache.
  • Vitreous detachment.
  • Retinal break.
  • Occipital lobe infarction.
  • Sensory deprivation.

Patients who experience the above mentioned problems usually face the Photopsia. It is recommended to visit the doctor for detail checkup in order to avoid the development of this serious disorder.

Risk or chance of development of this disorder depends on numerous factors. According to studies published by the eye surgeons and experts, Photopsia could be a genetic issue. According to statistics it has been reported that genetic transmission is only 30 %. However, it is believed that majority of the patients of this disorder have no genetic background as their parents were physically fit and they were never affected by this problem.

On the other hand, the light flashing has become a common problem. Latest research confirms that intensive use of digital gadgets such as laptops, android phones and tablets is creating more vision related problems. A PhD scholar at Oxford University studied the association of retinal issues with Photopsia. According to his reports, there is a positive relationship observed. Patients with retinal issues have higher chances of Photopsia development especially if treated without care.


Photopsia Meaning, Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Photopsia Symptoms


Unlike other disorders, it is difficult to find the symptoms of Photopsia in a person. Only the experts can identify these symptoms and signs. However, some commonly reported symptoms of photopsia are

  • Vision impairment.
  • Eye surgery especially related to retina.
  • A trauma or shock.
  • Headache especially in the front and back portions of head.

People who experience the above mentioned symptoms should contact the doctors as soon as possible. It is important to get diagnoses and treatments very quickly to avoid the serious issues.  

Photopsia Causes


Information about the reasons behind Photopsia development assists the patients. It is important to find the common causes of this disorder especially if you belong to a family with such disorder. Following causes have been reported by the experts.

  • Retinal detachment.
  • Retinal tear.
  • Posterior vitreous.
  • Multifocal choroiditis.
  • Retinitis pigmentosa.
  • Papilledema

Photopsia Treatment


Treatments of Photopsia depend on the situation of patient. Normally, the doctors prefer to utilize surgical options to correct the detachment or alignments. In most of the situations, surgical options are preferred to get quick recovery. Some ophthalmological drops may slow down the process. They are beneficial in early stages of disease but in advance stages they become less effective. It would be great to get an opinion from an eye surgeon after diagnosis.
Photopsia Meaning, Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Photopsia Meaning, Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment Reviewed by Simon Albert on January 24, 2017 Rating: 5
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