Last night while I was trying to go to sleep, I kept seeing flashing/moving lights while my eyes were closed. It was very strange like white lights in geometric shapes. The room was completely dark. It stopped after about 15 minutes or so. Has anyone else had this?
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
You might have your eyes checked for a vitreous separation or other eye problem. Lyme can cause eye issues.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i had this bad. went to a specialist and was diagnosed with "ocular migraines".
in fact i went twice in six months, found absolutely nothing wrong. i even went to a neurologist, nothing wrong.
i ordered something called "migrelief" on the net. helped a lot.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
Yes, I have had similar. Flashes of light and various objects and patterns that would just play in an endless visual. It only happened when I closed my eyes in a dark room too. Once I opened my eyes it was all gone .
It felt like my eyes were flashing or pulsating and the neurons excited, producing this effect. I've only had this bad for 1-2 weeks then it went away. I was also very tired and sleepless when it happened, since I had trouble sleeping during that time.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
I have had both migraines with flashing lights and two vitreous separations. Usually the migraines were accompanied by and followed the flashing lights. But don't know if ocular migraines are always associated with headaches, maybe could be separate?
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I had flashing lights for a couple years, every night. It wasn't until I got off abx and started heavy duty detoxing that this symptom went away.
I also experienced other neuro sx when I went to bed along with this. One side of my body, sometimes both sides would feel like electricity was running through my body. I felt like a well lit Christmas tree.
Pam
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Do see your eye doctor. Call on Monday and tell them your symptoms. Probably fine but it could be a problem with the vitreous and that would require an eye doctor's exam.
Most likely, the excito-nerve stuff that goes bonkers with lyme is over excited. What helps:
MAGNESIUM. FISH OIL.
Avoid additional glutamine or L-Glutamine - or glutamic acid - in supplements and try a diet low in glutamine from foods.
That can be way too stimulating. Details in next link.
You are likely free of all additives but you may want to recheck labels to be sure nothing new has been added since you last checked: --
ASTAXANTHIN - an antioxidant that has great promise for the eyes -
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Summer, I get this whenever I'm really tired (once I close my eyes in bed). Rest helps.
Posted by hopeful4 (Member # 8486) on :
It sounds like an ocular migraine. I've had a handful of these with eyes open, then closed my eyes and still there. It lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. No pain was involved.
When I had the first one, I didn't know what it was. I went to an eye specialist to be sure it was not a retina problem, and it was not.
Best wishes.
Posted by Love my kids (Member # 32876) on :
I also get this. It has improved dramatically with Lyme treatment but if I am tired or over stimulated it returns like clock work. Agree with other posters to ck with your eye doc to rule out other disease. But, they likely won't know anything about Lyme. I have had to educate our eye doc.
Posted by Jennybean (Member # 34198) on :
I have this as well. It started along with a whole list of crazy neuro issues as soon as I started doxy.
I get the flashes with eyes opened and closed, and all kinds of weird growing geometric patterns with my eyes opened upon waking in the middle of the night. The dark for me causes all kinds of visual disturbances.
It only happens when I have a bad herx or am over-stimulated. If I sit in front of the computer too long before I sleep it is much worse.
Im discussing this with my llmd in a couple of days, but do not think it is caused from any actual eye damage since it is in line with herxing...im no md though, so I could be wrong.
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
Thanks for all the replies. I'll see if it happens tonight again. I'm not sure if I should add it to the "list" for my LLMD yet. There are so many things on there already.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Summer,
You should put it on your list for your next LLMD appointment. It's an important piece of information.
And, also do see your eye doctor so your LLMD can be sure of that.
Your LLMD cannot be a good doctor to you if they don't have major details of what's going on.
Still, as many state, over-stimulation is likely the cause and MAGNESIUM can help but it does show that the nerve fibers are irritated. Your LLMD needs to know that.
You might also read about myelin sheath (around the nerves) and mitochondria (energy center inside the cell) support here: ---------------------------
Topic: Doctor with MS recovers: shares nutrients & pivotal diet
Focus: "Minding My Mitochondria" by Terry Wahls, MD
"TED Talks" Video and book links.
MYELIN SHEATH & MITOCHONDRIA SUPPORT discussed. -
Posted by derk diggler (Member # 31903) on :
i had it this morn 15 min to 30 min and its gone but when it happend the first time it scared thie **** out of me, mine looks like the ceiling fan in my house is in my vision pretty scarry
Posted by tonysgirl (Member # 11202) on :
It sounds very much like an migraine aura without headache, also known as acephalegic migraine (hope I spelled that right.)
I have been getting them quite often within the last year or so and I am trying to figure out the cause. My nervous system has never gotten back to normal since I first got Lyme in 2007. I am also pre-diabetic or insulin resistant, which I believe plays a role in this as well. I have been logging my auras and they seem to come around hormonal times, ovulation and menstruation. I don't know if you are male or female, but hormones may be a key player with this as well.
If they continue, have your eyes checked and maybe see a neurologist for the headaches only. Don't waste your time with them regarding Lyme as most take the traditional IDSA stance regarding treatment.
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
I had that bad! It was when I was at my sickest and all other neuro symptoms were at their worst as well.
I also get migraine with aura now but those are different. Like you, the other episodes would be when I closed my eyes and it was dark.
I still get this occasionally but not nearly as bad. Again, my migraines with aura are completely different.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Flashing lights was and is one of my biggest problems.
Was told by my Neurosurgeon that it was from my blocked CSF flow from Chiari Malformation. Had the surgery to correct it and they really did not go away. That was 2 years ago but they do seem to be getting better since back in lyme treatment again.
Had these for about 8 years and some things that make them worse for me is; hormonal changes weather changes food and environmental allergies (BIG trigger) leaky gut/candidas exertional activities herxing/flare/tick bite
Things that make it better (short list); Topamax (the only thing to take them away 100%) allergy meds/sudafed lyme treatment - long term
Been to all sorts of eye doctors to rule out eye issues.
LLMD says it is from lyme /co.s and Neurosurgeon says it is from Chiari Malformation.
The flashing lights have, at times, been 24/7 for me. Those were the days I had to take Topamax just to get rid of them or I could not really function.