Help? I sat down at my computer about 5 minutes ago and I suddenly got this rush of light that won't go away.

Question

I'm going to shut my eyes for a while as soon as I finish typing this and see if it will go away. I recall people who get migrane headaches talk of this. It ssems to be swirling and is more to my left than right. That's how I'm able to type this. Outside light really messes up this whole undescribable image and makes it worse. I'm going to lay down a while and come back and read the answers. Hopefully it will be gone. This is the first time anything llike this has happened to me. Thanks for any ideas of what it could be.

Everyone of you have helped me stay at ease about this. Fortunately the light sensations have subsided, but I feel a dull throb of a headache. It almost feels like I already had a bad headache that I couldn't feel and this is the aftermath. I know that makes no sense, but it feels like what pain feels like after the severity of the pain has become tolerable.
I quit smoking going on 3 months now. I felt perfectly fine -in fact I felt great up until about 2-3 weeks ago. I've been depressed in a clinical way, you know the purely chemical depression? Yeah, I hate it! I'd almost rather smoke again, but I'm not going to. I'm 41 years old and I smoked for a solid 10 year stint. It was the longest period I smoked. I had smoked from age 19-22, then from 25-26 then started again at 30.
I quit because my son wanted to save $289 this summer for an Xbox. He mentioned it again one day when we were going into Target. I thought, ' if he can save that much, I would feel horrible smoking that much$!'

Answer 1

Could be that your eyes are damaged from looking at TVs and monitors for too long.

I have the same thing.

Get an LCD screen if you can and stay away form regular screes for a while and it will go away. It will come back if you look at them too long again though.

Answer 2

Welcome to your first migraine. You probably forgot to eat also.

The next thing you will probably see is only half of something. Then you may have a mosaic pattern in the eye where the light flashed.

Be sure and stay in a dark room and take an aspirin. Also drink something like orange juice.

When you recuperate, next chance you get, see your doctor for testing and medication.

I have experienced many migraines while on the computer.

Bless your heart.

Answer 3

I have had this numerous times. I don't know what causes it but don't get scared. The first time it happened to me I panicked so I just sat in the car closed my eyes took some deep breaths and my vision became normal within a few minutes. Just do what you said you were going to, lie down and close your eyes. That ususally takes care of the problem. Put a cool wash cloth over your eyes while lying down, that helps too.

Answer 4

It could either be a migraine or glaucoma. Glaucoma is where there's too much fluid in your eye and it creates a lot of pressure. Are you in pain? I would definately recommend to have your eyes checked and/or go to your doctor. This sounds serious.

Answer 5

You have a migraine, the thing in your eye will go across your your eye then you will get a really bad headache and you might throw up.

Answer 6

Yes, I get those. Sometimes I get headaches after. Lately, it is just moving swirling lights and they are called Ocular migraines. They don't leave me with a massive headache. No one knows what starts them. It could be anything. I figured mine to be allergies to certain foods. Lights can cause them. Mine last about 15 - 40 minutes. Here is more about them and what you may be seeing. Mine move and change until they finally go to the outside upper quadrant of my eye.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/ocular-migraine.htm

The term "migraine" usually brings to mind a severe type of headache. But visual disturbances with or without headache pain also can accompany migraine processes thought to be related to changes in blood flow in the brain. These visual problems associated with migraines technically are known as ophthalmic migraines, but are much more commonly (though incorrectly) called ocular migraines. Because most lay people better understand the term, this article refers to the condition as "ocular migraine."

Migraines can be produced by the body's neurological responses to certain triggers such as hormonal changes, flashing lights, or chemicals in foods or medications. One result of these triggers may be an intense headache that, if untreated, can last for hours or even days. During migraine processes, changes also may take place in blood flow to the area of the brain responsible for vision (visual cortex or occipital lobe). Resulting ophthalmic or ocular migraines commonly can produce visual symptoms even without a headache.

Ocular Migraine Symptoms
People with ocular migraines can experience a variety of visual symptoms. Classically, you will see a small, enlarging blind spot (scotoma) in your central vision with bright, flickering lights (scintillations) or a shimmering zig-zag line (metamorphopsia) inside the blind spot. The blind spot usually enlarges and may move across your field of vision. This entire migraine phenomenon can resolve within only a few minutes, but usually lasts as long as about 20-30 minutes.

Ocular migraines generally are considered harmless. They are typically painless, cause no permanent visual or brain damage, and usually do not require treatment. Nevertheless, always consult your eye doctor when you have unusual vision symptoms, because it's possible that you have another condition requiring treatment, such as a retinal detachment, which should be checked out immediately.

What Do I Do if I Have an Ocular Migraine?
Unfortunately, a visit to the eye doctor may produce few answers in terms of how to treat or prevent ocular migraines. This is because processes that trigger ophthalmic migraines are poorly understood. The vision symptoms accompanying painless ocular migraines are not related directly to the eyes. Instead, these visual symptoms occur as a result of the migraine "activity" in the visual cortex of the brain located in the back of the skull.

As described above, your vision and visual acuity will be significantly compromised during an ophthalmic migraine attack or episode. If sharp vision is essential for your safety, then you should stop what you are doing immediately, if possible. If you are driving, pull over until the ocular migraine passes and your vision has cleared. Stay still until the ocular migraine resolves. If you have concerns about unusual or lingering vision symptoms, visit your eye doctor or other physician for a checkup.

Ocular Migraine Treatments
Typically, ophthalmic migraines do not require treatment. However, if these symptoms recur on a regular basis or with increasing frequency, then treatment in the form of medications (consult your doctor) may be necessary to reduce the frequency and/or severity of attacks. You may need to continue taking these medications for extended periods of time to prevent recurrence of ophthalmic migraines.

Answer 7

If you see flashes of light that is very serious and you need to see an optometrist. Floaters, ie dots and other shapes that float across your eyes, are not a problem but light flashes are.

Answer 8

Was there pain involved? A migraine always has pain associated with it. Did you feel sick? Your best bet it so call the doctor.

Answer 9

You probably suffer from epilepsy.....its a really dangerous thing...i think.