Skip to main content

Photopsia

Meaning

Photopsia is a clinical symptom defined as the perception of brief, unformed flashes, sparks, or streaks of light in the visual field, which are generated internally and not by external light sources. This visual disturbance is a manifestation of abnormal mechanical, chemical, or electrical stimulation of the retina’s photoreceptors or the visual cortex of the brain. In the context of hormonal health, photopsia is a rare but important neurological or vascular adverse event associated with certain endocrine-modulating pharmaceutical agents. It is a sign of an underlying perturbation in the visual system’s integrity.