why am i seeing flashes of light in the corner of my eye?

Seeing flashes of light in the corner of your eye is usually caused by the eye's internal structures, particularly the vitreous humor and retina. The most common cause is posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel-like vitreous fluid inside the eye shrinks and pulls on the retina, causing flashes perceived as light. This happens more frequently as people age. Other causes include trauma to the eye, retinal detachment (a serious condition requiring urgent care), optic nerve inflammation, migraines, or pressure on the retina from physical activities like rubbing the eyes. If flashes are sudden, frequent, or accompanied by floaters or vision loss, it is important to seek an eye doctor immediately to rule out serious conditions like retinal detachment.