Seeing Sparkles of Light: Photopsia Causes and Treatments

Seeing sparkles of light that resemble glitter, sometimes referred to as or "seeing stars," is a phenomenon known as photopsia. These and similar visual disturbances, like seeing bands of light, prisms, sparks, or flashes, are usually caused when temporary pressure is placed on the eye, such as when you sneeze hard.

It can also occur as the result of a migraine headache, brain-related circulation problems, or medical conditions affecting the retina of the eye or the gel-like substance within the eye called the vitreous.

This article describes possible causes of photopsia, both common and uncommon, and explains exactly what happens when you seeing sparkles of light.

Why Am I Seeing Stars?

When the lining in the back of the eye (retina) senses light, it sends a message to the optic nerve. The optic nerve relays the message to the brain, which then identifies the image.

When you are seeing stars or sparkles, something other than visible light is stimulating the retina. These false flashes are known as phosphenes.

Phosphenes can be triggered by pressing the eyes. They can also happen when neurons in the eye or the brain are stimulated.

Common Cause of Seeing Sparkles of Light

Pressure on your eyes is the most common cause of seeing stars. The flashes of light that look like glitter can be caused by pressure inside the eye or brain.

For example, you might see stars when you:

• Rub your eyes
• Sneeze
• Cough
• Strain
• Vomit

This usually only lasts for a few seconds and is not a health concern.

Less Serious Medical Causes of Seeing Stars

When you see stars for a prolonged period or frequently, there are a number of possible reasons why this may be occurring. Here are some of the least dangerous conditions associated with seeing glitter-like specks of light.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common condition caused by aging that can cause you to see stars in your vision.

The vitreous is a jelly-like filler inside the eyeball. It keeps the eyeball plump and round. The vitreous is attached to the retina. With normal aging, the vitreous becomes less firm. It can start to shrink and tug on the retina.

If the pulling is strong enough, the vitreous can separate from the retina. When this happens, it can cause a person to see floaters, flashes of light, or stars.

Vision disturbances caused by PVD can look like streaks of light, usually at the side of the field of vision (peripheral vision).

PVD can cause damage to the retina. Even though it can be a normal part of aging, you need to tell your provider if you have any symptoms of PVD so they can monitor you closely.

Migraines

Seeing stars can also be part of the visual changes (auras) that are a common symptom of migraine headaches.

An aura typically lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, then goes away on its own without any treatment.

With some migraines, a visual aura happens without any pain. These are called ocular migraines. The aura can affect one or both eyes.

If you're having an ocular migraine, you may see:

• Rainbow-like colors
• Flashes of light
• Stars
• Zig-zag lines
• Blind spots

If you see sparkles and then get a headache, the episode would be diagnosed as a migraine. If you see them without pain, it would be called a migraine without a headache.

More Serious Medical Causes

Sometimes a more serious condition can cause you to see stars. Those discussed in detail here include:

• Retinal disorders
• Brain-related causes
• Wet macular degeneration
• Diabetes
• Preeclampsia

Retinal Disorders

You may see stars if you have problems with the retina of your eye. You may see stars, flashes, or bands of light if you have a condition like retinal detachment, which occurs when the retina pulls away from its normal position in the eye.

The symptoms of retinal detachment include:

• Flashes or sparkles of light in one or both eyes
• A dark shadow that seems like a curtain covering part of your field of view
• An increase in floaters (small dark spots or squiggly lines that float across your field of vision)

Brain-Related Problems

It's not common but seeing stars can sometimes be a sign of a problem in the areas of the brain that handle vision.

Blood vessel disease (cerebrovascular disease): This is a condition that affects the blood vessels and can cause less blood supply to the brain. When the brain isn't getting enough blood, it may not function well.

Systemic low blood pressure: Abnormally low blood pressure can also cause less blood to flow to the brain.

Postural hypotension: This is a sudden drop in blood pressure. The decrease in blood supply can make a person see stars or flashing lights for a few seconds. Postural hypotension can happen in someone who already has high or low blood pressure when they lie down or stand up too fast.

Concussion: A head injury that causes the brain to move around in the skull. This serious condition can cause vision issues as well as a number of other problems.

Wet Macular Degeneration

This is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a condition that leads to central vision loss.

In wet macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula, which is the part of the eye that helps you see fine detail. This damages the macula quickly unlike the dry version of the disease, which leads to slower vision loss.

People with wet AMD can experience visual distortions, such as seeing sparkles of light or straight objects appearing to bend.

While macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in adults 60 and older, wet AMD is less common. It occurs in roughly 10% to 15% of people with AMD.

Diabetes

Some people with diabetes may develop diabetic retinopathy, which is a condition that occurs when a buildup of sugar in the blood damages tiny blood vessels in the retina.

These blood vessels (or abnormal ones that grow to take their place) can leak blood and other fluids into the macula or back of the eye, causing vision to blur. You may also begin seeing sparkles of glitter-like light.

This is a serious eye condition that can result in extensive vision loss, but there are several ways to treat it.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is persistent high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy, usually after week 20.

In addition to symptoms like headaches and abdominal pain, people with preeclampsia may experience blurry vision or see flashing lights. This may be due to an irritation of the central nervous system or may signal a swelling of the brain.

You can catch preeclampsia early by making regularly visits to a healthcare provider during pregnancy and looking out for vision changes and other symptoms.

Treatment for Seeing Sparkles of Light

Treatment for seeing stars will depend on what's causing it:

Posterior vitreous detachment: No treatment is needed if there's no damage to the retina. If the retina is damaged, treatment options include using a laser or cryopexy (freezing treatment) to seal the retina to the wall of the eye.

Migraine: Treatment options include both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, as well as lifestyle changes such as losing weight and implementing stress management techniques.

Retinal disorders: Treatment for a retinal disorder will depend on the type, severity, and location of your retinal detachment. Some options to repair it include lasers, cryotherapy (freezing), and pneumatic retinopexy, which is injecting your eye with a gas bubble that moves the retina back in place.

Blood vessel disease: Your healthcare may recommend a healthier diet and exercising regularly.

Low blood pressure: You may not need treatment for this, but some strategies to raise blood pressure may include drinking more water, adjusting how and when you eat, or taking medication.

Concussion: It's important to take care of yourself while recovering from a concussion. This means getting plenty of sleep and avoiding certain physical activities for at least a couple days. Pain relievers can also help symptoms.

Preeclampsia: Healthcare providers will monitor you closely to watch for concerning signs, including dangerously high blood pressure or signs of organ failure. Medications may be taken to lower blood pressure in some cases, or delivery may be recommended if the condition becomes dangerous.

Summary

Seeing sparkles of light and similar visual disturbances is known as photopsia. The individual flashes of light are called phosphenes.

Usually, seeing stars is due to temporary pressure on the eye. This is typically harmless and only lasts for a few seconds. However, if you see stars often or they last for a long time, see your provider. You may need treatment for an underlying cause like migraine or a retinal disorder.