Why Are You Seeing Stars?

Have you ever watched a cartoon and whenever a character hits their head, stars begin circling them and the character is usually a bit disoriented?  This isn’t just for comedic relief or animation.  Seeing stars in your vision is a real thing and is usually the result of some kind of head injury, trauma or some other illness that would be best diagnosed by a doctor. For a proper vision diagnosis or LASIK in Orange County, contact Advanced Eye Medical.

What Does “Seeing Stars” Look Like?

When someone says that they are seeing stars, it typically means that they see small specks of light or even streaks of light flashing.  While usually temporary, some people report seeing flashes of light frequently, which may be an indication of a much more serious condition.

Common Causes of “Seeing Stars”

Here are some of the common causes for seeing stars in your vision.

  • Head Injury – A blow to the head is a common cause of seeing stars. When the brain gets rattled, it can send the nerve signals in your brain in all directions, creating a great deal of chaos and therefore temporary issues with your vision.
  • Problems with the Retina – The retina is a thin layer of tissue located on the backside of the eye. It is light sensitive and creates a gel-like substance that is used to help retain the shape of the eye.  Rubbing your eye excessively or some other trauma to the eye can pull at the retina (also known as a detached retina) and cause one to see stars.
  • Migraine Headaches – Those that suffer from migraines, a very severe type of headache, often experience symptoms of either seeing stars or seeing spots (also known as “auras”) in their vision.
  • Pregnancy – Some women who are pregnant have reported trouble with their vision in the form of tiny cloud-like spots in their vision. These are called “floaters” and are generally believed to be the cause of an increase in blood pressure or glucose levels.

While not as common than the causes above, stars and flashes of light in the vision have also been linked to the following:

  • Unstable blood pressure levels
  • Complications from eye surgery
  • Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus
  • Eye infections
  • Eye tumors
  • Blood clots in the retina area

Treatment Options

For most people, seeing stars is a temporary condition.  However, due to the fact that two of the major causes of seeing stars are related to either a head injury or problems with the retina, it is important to make sure that you seek out the help of a doctor and/or ophthalmologist immediately.

If you have suffered a blow to the head, the doctor will want to make sure that you are not suffering from a concussion, which can create other health complications and can even result in death.  A doctor is properly trained and skilled to check and observe the symptoms following trauma to the head to ensure that your condition is, in fact, temporary, and does not require any additional treatment.

If you are seeing stars as the result of problems with your retina, an eye doctor is trained to run all of the necessary tests and determine whether surgery or other treatment may be required to resolve whatever issues you may be experiencing with your retina.

And, of course, if you continue to see stars or flashes following treatment, you should also go back to your doctor and seek out medical treatment to make sure that you may not be suffering from some other medical condition that has gone untreated.

Eye Treatment and LASIK in Orange County

If you are seeing stars (and not the kind generally found in Hollywood and throughout Southern California) and are located in the greater part of Orange County, contact the medical professionals at Advanced Eye Medical today at 1-866-997-2020 or by e-mail at info@laserforeyes.com.  Whether it’s a free consultation or LASIK in Orange County, we can’t wait to help get you and your vision healthy and star-free again!