Weird Covid Symptom: peripheral flashes of light

@ jwatzig- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That would be weird even if you didn't have Covid. If you have had an extended or long covid then light sensitivity can be a symptom. And of course, this can be very scary. I get strange light sensations when I have a migraine.

First, please let me ask if you have any underlying conditions such as eye problems or nerve problems? Did you have a headache with these sensations? Were you sleeping and had these?

Hi, thanks for responding.
Bad headache is constant, no eye issues. Have some nerve pain in the back of the head from an accident 6 years ago. I am getting this both in the day and when trying to sleep.
Not sleeping well.
Jeff

Hi Jeff, it's nice to meet you. Do you think that it is possible that you might have migraines? Have you checked with a neurologist to see if they can suggest any relief? This may very well be from COVID but it could also be as a result of the accident coming back to haunt you. You might want to check on that with the doctor who treated your injuries.

What do you mean by bad covid? Are you over it or still have covid?

Hi Merry,
The docs have pretty much
Done all they can do for my neck/head pain. Calling it bad Covid because I am not feeling better after 13 days. My wife has not been this bad, she's going back to work tomorrow. Never had these Light issues before Covid.

@jwatzig- Everone is so different. If you read some of the people's stories in the group you will see that 10 days is a relatively short time with covid. And your wife probably had a milder case. Be calm and restful if you can. Make sure that you have a test to see if you are negative before being around others. Have you asked your doctor for relief from your symptoms?

When you talk to your doctor for headache relief ask about the lights, will you?

@jwatzig, I did not have Covid and I don't know if your flashing lights are associated with your recent Covid19 or to your prior injury. I did, however, have my own experience with flashing lights in my field of vision. In my situation I had a retinal vein that was leaking and caused damage to my retinal nerve, thus impacting my vision permanently. I would like to urge you to contact your ophthalmologist or PCP. Early treatment saved me from further damage to my vision.

Here is a discussion from the Eye Conditions Discussion Group - Flashing lights in my peripheral vision
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flashing-lights-in-my-peripheral-vision/
This article, that as shared in the discussion may be of interest to you.
– Why Are You Seeing Flashes of Light in the Corner of Your Eye? https://www.healthline.com/health/flashes-of-light-in-corner-of-eye

My PCP saw me immediately, and got me in to see the ophthalmologist the next day. In m y situation it was that urgent. If you explain what you are experiencing, I think that your doctor will be able to judge the urgency of the situation. Do you have an ophthalmologist or a PCP that you can contact?

Yes, just messaged my doctor. Thanks again

Hi Rosemary,
Thanks so much for this info. It's been freaking me out the last couple days.
No, the flashes/light balls are more off to the side of my head. Kinda like a clyediscope effect. (Probably spelled that wrong) I just messaged my PCP. Thanks
Jeff

Great! Let me know!

I had a very mild case of covid. I thought it was a mild cold, until my sense of taste and smell went away. I did experience some blurred vision and a new floater in my left eye. My vision cleared up and the floater went away after the "cold" symptoms cleared. I went for my annual eye exam after and my eyes checked out fine. When I got the first dose of the Moderna vaccine, my eyes were effected mildly again along with other symptoms of fatigue and nausea for a day. After my second dose of the vaccine, I saw flashes in my peripheral vision of my left eye. I also had the nausea and fatigue. The flashes went away when the other side effects cleared up. My sense of taste and smell is slowly coming back after six months.