possible detached retina?

[princeperch]

basically the past 5 days on waking up in the morning I have had one or two incidences of a small flash of orange light in my right eye for about 1 second.

I went to the opticians yesterday and had a contact lens fitting and eye test. Told the lady there about tthe flashes of light in the eye and she said its either a migrane (with or without the headache) or worst case, a detached retina. She ran some tests and said that as far as she can see everything looks ok, but if the flashing lights continue I need to go to the eye hospital as an emergency and get a scan.

I hardly ever get headaches at all, let alone migranes so how likely that is I dont know.

I've had the flashing light thing again today. Should I be looking to go to moorfields as an emergency tomorrow for a scan? or is it the case that I should give it a bit more time to see if it is a migrane?

[pidsy]

Not sure but whatever it is, if its new and happening regularly i'd get it checked out asap!

Even if its just to put your mind at ease.

[The Nur]

On one hand you have potentially losing the sight in one eye, in the other, a potential migraine and you still haven't been to the hospital?

Detached retinas are the exact opposite of fun. Trust me.

[princeperch]

after having spent several hours in moorfields today (all of the staff I dealt with were excellent despite the wait) I've been told by a doctor who gave the old minces a good going over, that it isnt anything serious like a retinal tear/detachment and is more likely down to a migrane which comes on as a result of stress.

[The Nur]

Good good, better to be safe than sorry

[anonymous-user]

Glad you are OK, but if it had been a retina you may have been too late, I've had 5 holes in my Retina reattached/welded by laser and two major detachments that required surgary (I am very Miopic and knew the danger so was looking/waiting for it) both the surgeons said I was lucky because I came in early, I went within 12 hours of getting the symptoms, both surgeons said another 24 and it would be to late,to operate, so If you suspect a retina detachment do not delay, and do not take the word of an optcian, I had one hole that my cataract surgeon thought wasn't serious but she see arranged for me to see a retina surgeon that day (because of my history) it was ahole and done with a laser same day.