Photopsia

The subjective perception of flashes, flickers, or scintillating spots of light in the absence of an external light stimulus, typically resulting from abnormal stimulation or dysfunction of the retina or visual pathways in the occipital cortex.

Causes

• Retinal and vitreous causes

  • Posterior vitreous detachment

  • Retinal tear

  • Retinal detachment

  • Vitreoretinal traction

  • Age-related macular degeneration

• Neurological causes

  • Migraine aura

  • Occipital cortex irritation or dysfunction

  • Visual pathway disturbances

  • Seizure-related visual phenomena (rare)

• Traumatic and ocular injury causes

  • Head trauma

  • Ocular trauma

• Vascular and hemodynamic causes

  • Sudden hypotension

  • Preeclampsia-related vascular changes

• Medications affecting visual processing or retinal function