Flashes of light are pinpricks or spots of light that you see in your field of vision. Light flashes can also look like jagged lines or appear wavy, like heat waves. 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 or brain. They are not caused by lights or anything else outside of your body.  Most flashes happen when the vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks or changes, pulling on the retina (the light sensitive lining of the eye).

Many people will see occasional flashes of light, especially as they age. These occasional flashes are usually harmless, but you should discuss them with your ophthalmologist during an eye exam However, if you suddenly start seeing repeated flashes of light, this could be a serious problem, especially if you also have cloudy floaters or vision changes. Call your doctor right away if this happens. Suddenly seeing new floaters and flashes could mean your retina has detached. This is a very serious condition that your ophthalmologist must treat quickly to prevent blindness.

These conditions can cause flashes of light:

• Detached and Torn Retina
• Migraine

Other symptoms that may seem like flashes of light include:

• Distorted vision (with migraine)
• Halos around lights
• Starbursts around lights

For more information, see also: Floaters and flashes