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White flickering light after laser for retinal tear

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rose912910
rose912910

I posted on here a few weeks ago about a black/gray spot I kept seeing after the retinal tear laser surgery. I saw on the doctor's notes it was the photocoagulation. I also saw that I have lattice degeneration which I'm assuming contributed to the tear. I am not seeing the black spot so much anymore, unless I blink or change rooms with different lightings, but now in its place I am constantly seeing a flashing light that looks white especially in dim lighting. It extends to the side of my eye as well, which I'm assuming is from where the laser was also done. I went to the retinal specialist and said everything looked fine and this could be a side effect of the laser and it generally goes away within a couple months. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this with the laser and if it went away? this has been very disorienting for me and I have been fearing losing my peripheral vision. I'm not sure if I am actually losing peripheral vision or if it just feels that way since I have this constant flickering now on the side. I know it's better to be safe than sorry, but a part of me wishes I never did this laser bc its been causing so many issues for me and supposedly the tear had scar tissue from healing itself. If anyone has had any experience with this and would like to share I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

4 likes, 186 replies

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  • Tripadvisor
    Tripadvisor rose912910

    Posted

    Hi rose

    I think most people are left with some aftermath following laser photocoagulation. I was left with a load of floaters. Dont regret getn it done, your other option would have been to risk having a complete retinal detachment and loosing your sight in the eye. I did have the flickering at the side the day the tear happened and I hadnt a clue what it was but as I say I think most people have something goin on after the surgery. Dont hesitate to get a second opinion if it gives you peace of mind, Rose.

    • rose912910
      rose912910 Tripadvisor

      Posted

      Thanks TripAdvisor. I've gone back multiple times since and I'm pretty sure it's scarring from the laser causing an altered function in the light receptors of retina

  • allison41588
    allison41588 rose912910

    Posted

    Hi Rose,

    I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to say that I'm experiencing the same exact thing! The opthalmologist told me it's not unusual because of the laser scarring and that it may decrease over time or not, but regardless it is safe. I totally feel your frustration as I went into this as more of a preventative procedure for a small hole that wasn't giving me any issues and now I'm still occasionaly seeing that weird spot (almost like a gray/white glimmer) in certain lighting far off in my perpheral vision.

    I know this is better than the alternative, but it's so frustrating! Did yours ever decrease? I had my procedure done about 2 weeks ago and it seems slightly smaller (maybe?), but just trying not to obsess over it so much. 

    Best wishes!!

    • rose912910
      rose912910 allison41588

      Posted

      Sorry allison! Thanks for your reply. I hadn't checked on the board ! I am still experiencing this annoying phenomenon but overall it has slightly improved since it started. It's hard to tell sometimes though bc it depends on the lighting. I am frustrated I was not explained of this common side effect. I'm frustrated too bc mine was an old tear that already had scar tissue but she said since I'm young it was possible it could detach. I know it's better than losing vision although I feel like the laser did give me a blind spot but still frustrating. I can't read as fast bc it's distracting and I'm always having to cover that part of my vision when reading. I'm hoping it will continue to improve for me. On some posts it said it could take a year to heal fully so I'm hoping that's the case. I hope it has got better for you as well !

    • Bball2300
      Bball2300 rose912910

      Posted

      Hi Rose and Allison,

      I was checking in to see how you are both healing?  I had a few tears in my left eye and needed to get the laser done about 2-3 weeks ago and although at first things seemed fine I'm starting to see more floaters in that eye than before and even have some intermittent flashes.  It's annoying but manageable at this stage.  I'm hoping things improve and don't deteriorate.  I was wondering if the increased floaters or flashes eventually went away for you both.   I have a follow-up with my optho next week to see how things are healing.  

    • TiffanyNOLA
      TiffanyNOLA Bball2300

      Posted

      How are you doing now? Did your flashes or floaters improve? How long did it take if they did get better? Did you experience any tiny blinking lights, almost like pieces of glitter that come and go?
    • rose912910
      rose912910 Bball2300

      Posted

      Hi! My floaters have never really went away but they don’t bother me. It’s the static I have from the laser 24/7 that bothers me most. I still get the flashes here and there but they are very tiny. Everything has been good when I went back to the retina specialist and eye doctor so I’m hoping no new problems
    • user61120
      user61120 allison41588

      Posted

      hey!! i really hope you answer back, i have done the same procedure one week before and im getting the same thing, will this decrease over time? please let me know wath happened with you im very ancious right know i cant even focus on my daily life

  • TiffanyNOLA
    TiffanyNOLA rose912910

    Edited

    Hello, everyone. I am so glad that I have found this thread! Almost 3 weeks ago, I had laser surgery for a hole in my retina due to lattice degeration. I started off with a few floaters, went to the opthalmologist but he didn't see anything at that time (that was a Friday), then over the weekend had a few flashes and so I went back in on Tuesday and he found the lattice and referred me to a vitreoretinal specialist. The retinal specialist said that I was at risk for a retinal detachment and ended up doing laser on my left eye that same day. After surgery , I had a miriad of new symptoms, lots of new flashes, some new floaters, at one point it looked like someone was shining a red light on my retina when my eye was closed, small black flashing dots that would come and go, black rain especially when my eye was closed, and lightning strikes. Also, like some of you have described, the day after I noticed 4 black circular "holes" in my vision, and a blurry spot in my peripheral vision by my nose. I went back the next day and she told me that everything was looking ok. I assume it is where she lasered. Currently, I am dealing with the static electricity/flashing in my left eye from about 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock from my perspective which is more noticable in dim light/darkness/when my eye is closed. The static gets worse when I'm in bright light for some time and calms down after I'm in the dark or sleep but comes right back when I'm in light. I also get a flash here and there close to my nose that is noticable in any light, and infrequent small black dot flashes. I've also been dealing with terrible dry eye in my left eye, which I think has led to swelling of my eyelid, pain, and twitching of my face around my eye. My eye is slightly light sensitive and blurry which I think is from the dryness. The retina specialist also found lattice in my right eye (less than my left) and is recommending I have it lasered once my left eye is not symptomatic. This has all been so terrifying and I have been an anxious mess since it started. Crying at the drop of a hat. I'm a nurse and worrying about myself while at work is just adding to my stress. But I have to find a way to power on because I have 2 kids (1 and 7 years old) that depend on me. I am only 34 years old and this has thrown me for a loop especially because my vision has always been good, I just need a slight prescription for distance. My fiance says that I shouldn't worry so much because each time I've gone to the doctor since the laser, she's said that it looks stable (4 times so far in a little over 2 weeks, I've gone back for every change worrying that the worst was happening). It's nice to know that I'm not alone. I am so thankful to have found this thread and know that other people have had similar symptoms since my doctor didn't explain these things as potential side effects or occurrences and when I go back she says it is stable but it doesn't feel that way.

    • rose912910
      rose912910 TiffanyNOLA

      Posted

      Hi Tiffany! I’m sorry to hear all the side effects you have been having from the laser. I have to be honest sometimes I regret doing the laser bc the static/strobe light effect has still not gone away even though it is slightly better. I understand where you are coming from. From using Flonase I now also have minor subcapsular cataracts and I think it caused my retinal tear as well. I never had eye problems before this. Only being myopic and I’m only 25 so it’s definitely been frustrating for me too. The flickering/strobe light has gotten a little better but it’s still there and bothers me everyday. I wish they would have told me about these side effects 
    • rose912910
      rose912910 TiffanyNOLA

      Posted

      That’s good news that the doctor says things are stable. I don’t feel like my eyes are the same anymore but luckily everything has been okay with my eyes since 
    • TiffanyNOLA
      TiffanyNOLA rose912910

      Posted

      I agree. My eye does not feel the same. The static/strobe is annoying and makes me worry because it draws my attention. It is sometimes hard not to pay so much attention to it. The Blinky lights across my field of vision are very distracting because they come and go but are more noticable in bright light. Does your static get better after being in the dark a while? I am going for a second opinion tomorrow. It's terrible that Flonase has resulted in cataracts, I wasn't aware of that side effect. I am not myopic but need a small prescription for distance. It is hard to be so young as we are with these issues, none of my friends can relate.

    • jes2000
      jes2000 rose912910

      Posted

      Hey rose! When you say your flickering has gotten slightly better, how so? My flickering/shimmering is in the upper right corner of my eye. I see it mostly when I look down or try to focus. I'm currently on week 7 after laser, and the flickering/shimmering has been really bad the past week. I'm hoping it doesn't continue to get worse. When I come inside from being outside for a while that seems to be when it's the worst. It eventually does calm down. Any advice you have with coping would be amazing. Thank you. 

    • rose912910
      rose912910 jes2000

      Posted

      It used to be more of a white light in the beginning and now it’s more of a clear flickering. It also doesn’t feel like it takes up as much of my peripheral. It’s honestly been really hard to cope with. I’ve been having really bad sinus pressure so I think everything going on with that two intensifies the problem more. I just keep hoping that it will get better to the point I don’t notice it anymore. That’s kind of the only thing that helps me 
    • mar15908
      mar15908 jes2000

      Posted

      Hello Jes2000; I would like to ask you if you have improved lately; I have the same symptoms and my laser surgery was a month ago. Thank you.
    • R5V9G5
      R5V9G5 TiffanyNOLA

      Posted

      Hey Tiffany, I hope you are doing fine.

      I have been facing the same issues like you from past 1 week after getting my eyes treated from barrage laser. I am too scared because of the eye flashes which I get whenever I move from bright light to low light. Please help me, I really can't figure out what I should do in this tough time. I really feel depressed and its impossible to ignore these flashes. I feel really frustrated. I hope everything gets fine.

    • karen51466
      karen51466 R5V9G5

      Posted

      Hello, have the flashes stopped for you? I had my laser in November and I'm still getting flashes.

    • sandie96589
      sandie96589 karen51466

      Posted

      I had retinal tear surgery two weeks ago. I had a tear in my left eye and holes in my right one. the left eye has not been the same. I have long stringy floaters since the laser and tonight more flashes of light when out on a walk in the dark, the floaters were so bad today when I was outside that i was having trouble seeing. . I really hope these things go away. Do they eventually subside??

    • felicitygrace
      felicitygrace mar15908

      Posted

      Hello, i have gone for barrage laser 3 weeks ago and i am too experiencing these lights when I go from bright room to dim light. it stays for 20seconds n then back to normal.

      i was so paranoid. and this started after a week of barrage laser.

      how is your vision now?

    • victoria2022
      victoria2022 TiffanyNOLA

      Posted

      Hi Tiffany, I hope you're doing well and feeling better. I can relate to you based on your post. I had the same happen to me. Im young, with two kids, healthy and completely taken by surprise with this eye situation. I had laser treatment on one eye 3 weeks ago and continue seeing a bright light. Are you still seeing flashing lights? How is the dryness? I'm hoping that this goes away soon.

    • ajith57739
      ajith57739 felicitygrace

      Posted

      I had underwent laser surgery in both of eyes for several holes. Almost one month now, still experiencing strong flashing in right eye and also light flickering in both eyes of top peripheral vision. How long will it continue? I'm stressed about it. please reply.

    • ajith57739
      ajith57739 karen51466

      Posted

      I had underwent laser surgery in both of eyes for several holes. Almost one month now, still experiencing flashing in right eye and also light flickering in both eyes of top pheriperal vision. How long will continue? I'm stressed about it. please reply.

    • user61120
      user61120 ajith57739

      Posted

      please tell me wath happened with you, i have the same issue and its been a week since my surgery im literraly dying of anxiousness please tell me

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