What causes flashes and vitreous detachment?
As one grows older, the vitreous humor that fills the center cavity of the eye begins to shrink. This causes the vitreous to pull away from retina creating occasional bright bursts of light or flashes that are seen when the eyes are closed. These flashes usually cease in a matter of days or weeks when the vitreous has fully detached from the retina. Some people will for years continue to see occasional flashes caused by the loose vitreous scraping or bumping against the retina. Usually, this happens when the head is moved suddenly. Have you ever bumped your head so hard that you saw stars? This is due to the vitreous hitting against the retina. Except when they are symptomatic of a torn retina, flashes, like most spots and floaters, are normally in an aging eye.
