Weird Covid Symptom: peripheral flashes of light

Hello, my PCP referred me to the eye doctor and they saw me today. After eye dilation, he did a complete exam and found nothing. Afterwards I asked how about any possible nerve damage going on and he said the optical nerves look good. He ended up with just saying if I notice any changes in vision, to call back. Not sure if maby I should contact a neurologist for these light floaters in my peripheral vision?

Hello Chrissy, my doctors have said these symptoms don't have anything to do with Covid, so this is very interesting to hear this. When you say you had a New Floater in your left eye, does that mean you had Floaters before?
I have never had light flashes or light floaters until 10 days into Covid.
Jeff

Strange to read this - I would not think the eye floaters and flashes are related to COVID. But, I have them too! I never had COVID; I had my 2 Pfizer vaccinations in Feb. 2021 and am a healthy person. But I think I need to see an ophthalmologist. Over the years I have had tiny occasional squiggly floaters. Never bothered me. But in past few weeks, in my right eye, I have a round floater maybe half the size of my iris. In fact it is almost like it is a "picture" of my iris. Whether I look left or right, up or down, it is there. Sometimes it interferes with my vision. And I notice some flashes (usually white - maybe sometimes red). Maybe a few times per week. I had cataract surgery in my left eye 3 years ago. I have been told I have a cataract in right eye too. Could I have a detached retina?

@tennisgolf

Not to scare you but it could very well be a retina problem Mine was detached back in the late 1980s. Had a stationary floater…thought my contact was smudged. My Ophthalmologist opened his office on a Saturday and I had surgery that Tuesday after seeing a Retina specialist that Monday.. Flashing lights are a warning. If left too long you could actually have the fluid start to leak out of the eye. I went in time to avoid more serious complications.

Get an emergency appointment and mention the floaters and flashing lights.

Meantime don’t do any strenuous activities or unnecessary bending over. Go to an eye clinic if there is one near you where they have all the specialists. Let’s hope it is not the beginning of a detachment but why wait and face the possibility of vision loss.

Please keep us updated and don’t let anyone dismiss the symptoms.

Been there
FLMary

Well, thank you. The flashes are not too obvious - last only a second - happens maybe once a day.
Floater seems to be "permanent".
We have lots of local opthalmologists of courses in CT and NY. But I want a specialist.
But if I go to NYC everything gets more complicated in general (including COVID).
Was your episode sudden? Were the flashing lights constant?

Some years ago, I had a "blotch" - not a floater - in one eye. As soon as I described it to my ophthalmologist, she referred me to a retina specialist for evaluation. It was not a retina tear, but a small injury in the cornea, which eventually healed. But the specialist very emphatically told me that these things should not be ignored. A few months later, one of my employees was experiencing flashes and a blotch. At his wife's and my urging, he saw a specialist who was able to treat a retinal tear and prevent complete blindness in the eye. He was told if he waited for it to get worse, they probably could not have saved his sight. I suggest you ask ophthalmologist or optometrist for a referral.
Sue

@tennisgolf
The stationary floater was sudden…noticed it at work on a Friday.
I was not experiencing flashing lights until, after the surgery, I was doing something vigorous like cleaning up after a small puppy. Saw the retina guy again and he told me I had some leakage but was able to correct that by laser. He shot about 20 or so laser beans at my eye. I remember feeling like my eye was being hit with bullets or something. So, if the surgeon says do not drive for a period of time and avoid bending over etc. …listen to him or her. Also had to sleep with a plastic eye shield for a while and was off work for six weeks.

If you need surgery because it is a retinal tear…it will be more complicated the longer you wait. I had a sclera buckle done at the time which essentially is a piece of silicone or titanium material that pushes the sclera back towards the tear or break…sort of like attaching them together. That was the only thing I needed at that time and I remember not even wanting a second opinion. I lucked out in my choice of the initial ophthalmologist and the surgeon.

FL Mary

Hi Jeff! Yes, the floaters aren't like light flashes. They are common as one gets older. I have had some for years. I saw my eye doctor after I had covid and told her about the new floater in my left eye that went away after the covid symptoms cleared. She said that sometimes floaters appear in people who have colds or allergies and then they clear up. She made note of the blurred vision and floater I experienced in my record. The peripheral light flashes I experienced in my left eye didn't occur until I had my second dose of the Moderna vaccine. That also cleared up when the rest of the side effects of the vaccine went away.
It is always something!

Chrissy

OK, thanks for the info!

Thank you again. I did go to a retina specialist. He said my eye is ok (for now anyway). Come back in a month. He gave me an eye test to use everyday to determine if things get worse. It had to do with holding hand over my eye and noticing what I see by looking at the same thing daily and by keeping gaze straight ahead. If it changes the "perifiral" view, I should see him. Meanwhile my "big" floater (maybe half the size of pupil) it still there and still moves L and R, but it has faded a little after 2 months and is less obvious.
Once in a while I have new floaters (tiny dots - like a period). I get flashing light frequently in my side vision. Usually when I drive into garage and look hard to R and L when I am parking. That seems to be the only time.