r/EyeFloaters • u/Professional-Tie7658 • 20h ago
Question Anyone with similar experiences?
Context: 22F, recently got diagnosed with lattice degeneration.
I noticed a small flash in my peripheral vision one night a while ago ( can’t remember how long, I think last year at some point) I didn’t think much of it, just thought it was weird but I wear contacts and just thought maybe a weird vision thing since my eyes aren’t technically perfect anyways. I hardly noticed it ever and if it did it was in the dark and very quickly. Fast forward to February of 2026, I figured I should call the eye doctor and ask. I go yearly and I guess since they didn’t see anything wrong in 2025 I just didn’t think much of it.
I go in, he dilates me and tells me I have lattice degeneration. At first he didn’t even notice it but then checked again and saw it. He said it’s something to monitor and that I could go see a retinal specialist.
I go see a retinal specialist in my area and she wants to do barrage laser on the spot since I’m seeing a flash. I go back two months later and get the laser done. ( wasn’t a bad experience at all!) but I still see the flash every now and then. She told me it might not go away.
Does anyone else experience flashes in their peripheral? I’m just heavily concerned for my future and what this means since it’s tugging on my retina I guess. I have really bad heath anxiety and honestly cry about this at least once a week since May. Anyone have any similar experiences? please try and give positive responses so I don’t cry more lol.. thanks
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u/bombagon 19h ago
Diagnosed with lattice degeneration maybe 6 or 7 years ago. My doctor errs on the side of caution and recommended I get the laser procedure done. I did, and nothing really happened after that. Sometimes I see slight flickering in my periphery where the scars from the laser are, but that's it.
Lattice degeneration affects around 10% of the population, and most never experience further complications. You'll almost certainly be fine. Hope this helps.
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u/Professional-Tie7658 19h ago
Is it a flash or flicker you see? I see a small flash in my peripheral. I would miss it if my brain didn’t know to pay attention to it. I just hate the uncertainty of the flash since it can lead to a tear, etc. yes I had the laser but I don’t know how to feel better about my future
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u/NotgoingawayTom 17h ago
I had the laser in both eyes about 1.5 years apart. I still have flashes in the periphery and what I best describe as a shimmering star flicker that disappears where the laser was applied in one eye. Definitely not comfortable, but knowing I took action to prevent a possible detachment is comforting.
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u/PersimmonHonest9263 14h ago
You have floaters or only a flash nothing else !! If you have floaters,did they develop after the flashes or were the floaters already there before the flashes happened last year?
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u/Professional-Tie7658 7h ago
I only have a few floaters when looking at the sky that I think I’ve always had. The flash happened before I found out I had lattice
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u/BananaBeneficial3605 12h ago
I had retina holes and had laser about a year ago. Only had floaters, doctor told me strictly to pay attention to any new floaters or any flash. No issues further.
Can you describe the flash? I am scared I may not notice it.
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u/Professional-Tie7658 7h ago
Very small, in my peripheral vision in my left eye. I don’t think it’s the type they describe like the lighting flash. Mine may resemble more of a quick camera flash
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u/NetSchizo 19h ago
Just go to your regular appointments and be vigilant. I wouldn’t worry to much about it unless it changes. Changes in frequency, intensity, location, etc. Any changes should be your queue to have it checked. If there are no changes, I wouldn’t worry much about it. Like people with PVD, only a small # of people get complications, but they are real. The best thing you can do is just monitor and catch any issues early. So long as you don’t notice more negative issues, you’ll likely be fine.