Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: John Chapman on 07/02/2009 10:00:06

Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 07/02/2009 10:00:06
Can anybody tell me why, after a bright light is shone into your eyes, you then see a dark purple blotch floating in front of your vision for several minutes?

Also, if you blink or close your eyes at this stage the blob will instantly turn bright green while your eyes are closed and back to purple once they are open again. Why is that?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 07:06:02
Quote
Intense light, such as from a flashbulb or uncovered light bulb, can stimulate the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) to its maximum response. When this occurs, it takes awhile for the retina to "recover." For a short time you are not able to see well, or you may see spots or a dark afterimage.

http://www.uic.edu/com/eye/LearningAboutVision/EyeFacts/FYIAboutEyes.shtml
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 09:42:14
Any idea why the colour of the spots go from red to green when you close your eyes?

Can anybody else confirm that this happens with them?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:00:49
It happens to me but I don't know about the spots changing colours.
Usually when I've been outside for 10-15 min and it is really bright, when I come back inside, I see all kinds of funny colours [:)] and dancing movements.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 10:28:11
Ahhh. That's not quite what I am talking about. When indoors look into a bright torch for just a few seconds. Switch off the torch and look at a (preferably) white wall or ceiling. Voila! One red blob! Now close your eyes for a couple of seconds. Open them. Close them again. Stand on one leg. And you should notice the blob changing from red to green each time your eyes close. If you fall over it's because you believed me about standing on one leg!

I'm beginning to think that my eyes are unique. Or possibly just weird.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:31:41
Does this happen to you often?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 10:35:59
What. Falling over?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 10:36:15
Only on a Friday night!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:38:17
Well, your eyes don't forget what they see immediately.

I still think it is this

Quote
Intense light, such as from a flashbulb or uncovered light bulb, can stimulate the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) to its maximum response. When this occurs, it takes awhile for the retina to "recover." For a short time you are not able to see well, or you may see spots or a dark afterimage.


http://www.uic.edu/com/eye/LearningAboutVision/EyeFacts/FYIAboutEyes.shtml
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:41:47
Do you wear glasses or contacts?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 10:43:40
Quick. Someone come and rescue me. Chem4me is making me think I'm a freak. Surely someone has experienced this colour change phenominum. Anybody?????
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:45:12
I recall seeing purple colours, do you?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 10:47:00
Do you wear glasses or contacts?

I'm a little short sighted and I've had reading glasses fir the last 18 months or so. But I've experienced this phenomenon for as long as I can remember. And I'm sure I once heard it talked about on a 'fascinating facts' radio program many years ago.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 10:47:36
I recall seeing purple colours, do you?

Do they remain purple when you close your eyes?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:53:10
Lemme try...[:P]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 10:55:13
DOH! The torch isn't working!
Sorry, even bringing my head really close to the lightbulb doesn't do it [:(]
I'll have a go (maybe) when the Sun is out [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:01:37
you then see a dark purple blotch floating in front of your vision for several minutes?
Several minutes?
Must say that that's never happened to me. Never lasts more than 30-60 seconds.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 11:04:19
Yes, I think several minutes is an exaggeration. It just shows what a drama queen I can be. The colour change isn't, though. That happens every time.

Looking at the sun would work really well for me. But be careful, if you try.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:07:15
After being out in the Sun and coming inside, if I shut my eyes really hard I can see spots.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:08:36
Does this happen to you sometimes when you go to sleep? Maybe right after you turn the light off? Because it sometimes does to me!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 11:10:46
After being out in the Sun and coming inside, if I shut my eyes really hard I can see spots.

Can you still see them when your eyes are open? Try looking at something white, like a sheet of paper. What about the colour change?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:12:57
Well you see, at the moment there is no Sun or Moon for that matter (because it is pouring) [:)]
I'll try again later today, if the Sun decides to come out [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 11:20:08
I thought it was always sunny in New Zealand. Let me know how you get on. I await your results with baited breath.  [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:22:26
Well I tried it with the bathroom lights while brushing my teeth, but unfortunately, still no colours, just a faint black spot for a couple of seconds (and a headache!) [:D]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:33:58
The headache is worse than I expected! This is just friggin great! [:D]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 14/02/2009 11:36:39
I think I've been looking at the screen for too long. In addition with the light experiments, my well-being is even worse!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/02/2009 11:55:16
when i come from otside in the sun...My field of vision goe totally black....you know the song..."Blinded by the light" takes two to three minutes to adjust plus a huge heaache...

never seen colored spots..but white floaters when the blood pressure is two high....

Hope your head stops hurting right away....
you need a defuser screen on your monitor they help.....

Sorry for your headache...
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 14/02/2009 13:38:23
Oh no. You're not going to sue me for damages, are you? I do like to see someone prepared to suffer for their science.

I've decided that in the absence of anyone confirming that I'm not a freak I'm just going to have to pluck my eyes out. If anybody reading this has experienced my freakish visual anomaly for themselves please speak up quickly as it will only take a few minutes for me to find a teaspoon!

In the meantime, sorry Chem4me about the headache!  [;D]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 15/02/2009 03:03:31
In the meantime, sorry Chem4me about the headache!  [;D]
No worries [:)] Plenty more clone eyeballs to spare experiments coming up!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 15/02/2009 03:43:08
Okay so one of my useless clones I went outside and had a look around, then I came back in and looked at a white wall... NOTHING! Not literally, just nothing colourful [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 15/02/2009 06:38:38
Still NOTHING!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 15/02/2009 11:56:32
Ha ha. I think I'm definitely a freak.

I'll just have to wait and see if anyone else reading this thread has experienced the same. When I started it I assumed that everyone would instantly know what I was talking about. Thanks for getting all the Chem4mes having a go.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 16/02/2009 03:37:00
The weird thing is, I think I'm a freak as well (but a different kind)!
This morning, I did a 100m sprint and afterwards my vision was blurred and everything was really bright.

BEFORE.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

AFTER


 [ Invalid Attachment ]

IT was freaking me out!!  [:(] [:(] [:(] [:(]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 16/02/2009 08:44:01
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 16/02/2009 10:01:50
Hi Chem

That would worry me. Are you a fit person? Has this happened before?

I would be tempted to check that out with my GP. Be careful. [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Christopher1 on 16/02/2009 10:35:41
What blot you are looking at...



 drug rehab  (http://www.southcoastrecovery.com/)
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 16/02/2009 11:00:10
Hi Christopher1.

Welcome to the site.

I am trying to establish whether other people experience colour changing blotches floating in their vision after looking at a bright light. The original question was:

Can anybody tell me why, after a bright light is shone into your eyes, you then see a dark purple blotch floating in front of your vision?

Also, if you blink or close your eyes at this stage the blob will instantly turn bright green while your eyes are closed and back to purple once they are open again. Why is that?

It seems that generally people experience the 'light blotch' but no-one here knows what I am talking about when I say it changes colour when I close my eyes. What do you think?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 16/02/2009 16:28:48
John if I remember right it is the fluid or rather gel we have inside our eyes that make that effect. The reason we notice it is that the rods and cones that react to light sits on the 'bottom' of our eyes, so light have to traverse the full length of the eye before getting 'registered' by the brain. That gel have small 'impurities' in it that we don't notice normally, but can see at times.

And colour is just the way your brain might interpret a light stimuli. Or was it the Iris? Anyway, if you close your eyes and press on them with your fingers you will be able to see both shapes and colours, not because there is light coming to them, just because that pressure you are applying on your eyes will be interpreted by the brain as having both shape and colour.

"The rods are more numerous, some 120 million, and are more sensitive than the cones. However, they are not sensitive to color. The 6 to 7 million cones provide the eye's color sensitivity and they are much more concentrated in the central yellow spot known as the macula."
http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/anatomy.html
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 16/02/2009 17:00:20
Mr Chem, as you run your blood pressure goes up, as your heart and lungs works 'overtime' to keep you oxygenated. In fact, your body behaves much the same as when under threat.

"When under stress your body prepares to deal with the situation. Several hormones are secreted from your adrenal glands to allow your heart rate to speed up, to constrict the blood vessels to your gut and to enlarge the blood vessels to your muscles, to dilate your eyes so you can see better. 

Those hormones stimulate your liver to release glucose for quick energy. Fat deposits are induced to liberate free fatty acids for fuel. 
our body does this so you are in a heightened state to deal with the event that is causing your stress. "

Mr Chem?
Does this mean that you see glades as a threat to our security?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: techmind on 16/02/2009 18:47:45
Can anybody tell me why, after a bright light is shone into your eyes, you then see a dark purple blotch floating in front of your vision for several minutes?

Also, if you blink or close your eyes at this stage the blob will instantly turn bright green while your eyes are closed and back to purple once they are open again. Why is that?

The bright light momentarily bleaches the photo-receptors in the retina of the eye. The effect is typically noticed for up to a few minutes for 'common' bright lights, but may last longer if the light is seriously/dangerously bright.

The after-image colour you see is often substantially complementary to the colour of the bright light, so a bright red light might tend to create a cyan after-image, and a blue light might make a predominantly yellow after-image - if you're looking at a white surface. It does depend what colour (and brightness) surface you're looking at.

If you see the after-image when looking at a white surface then you are effectively subtracting a portion of the colour from the previous exposure... but if you shut/cover your eye so no 'new' light is entering, but still see an after-image then clearly there must be a different effect at work.


Having just done some empirical study [:)], I notice that the coloured splodge I see with my eyes open (against a bright surface) is slightly dark, while if I close my eye I see a bright burn-in on a dark backgroud (mysteriously my brain makes it come and go).

Having used a bluey-LED cycle lamp, I'm seeing a yellowy blob against the white on my computer-screen, but a magenta-y blob against the cream-coloured wall. When I close my eye and make it dark, I see a cyan coloured blob. But the colours change as the burn-in weakens.

I reckon that as well as the physcial bleaching, the brain plays tricks to conceal the physical artifact (which partly explains why the blob comes and goes), and this may also cause the colour to change.


Another thing you may observe is that if you've been laying in the sun for a few minutes with your eyes shut (you'll see the bright red of the blood in the eyelinds), when you open your eyes and look around everything will look bluey-green (and completely lacking in red) for a few minutes until the red-receptors have recovered.  [8D]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 16/02/2009 19:43:58
Hi yor_on

Are you suggesting that the reason looking at a bright light creates a blotch is because it illuminates blobs of 'stuff' floating within the vitreous humour that aren't normally visible? Why would we still be able to see them after the eyes are closed? I think what you are describing is a different phenomenon to the one I mean. Are you talking about what I think are known as floaters? I don't know why you see light when you squeeze your eyeballs but I always guessed that this increases the pressure within which somehow triggers the rods. I've often also wondered why you see flashes of light when you bang your head or even stand up too quickly. I may post this as a separate question.


Hi Techmind

That's a really good answer. So that's you, me and Chem4me who have given ourselves migraines peering into our torches. Do you think we could all sue Chris Smith if we go blind by experimenting for his site!!! (only joking, Chris)

What you said about laying in the sun was interesting:

... if you've been laying in the sun for a few minutes with your eyes shut (you'll see the bright red of the blood in the eyelids), when you open your eyes and look around everything will look bluey-green (and completely lacking in red) for a few minutes until the red-receptors have recovered.

So that's sensory adaptation at work.

But what really interested me was your explanation for the colour change. I assumed the significance of having your eyes open or closed was the light or dark environment within the eye. But your experimentation suggests that it is caused by mixing the colour of the blotch with different background colours, the colour of 'eyes closed' being either red or black depending on ambient light conditions. That's excellent.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Make it Lady on 16/02/2009 20:59:17


I think your colour detecting cone cells are recovering from the exposure to bright white light at different rates. Because white light stimulates all your colour detecting cells they stop sending signals to your brain. As some of them recover your spots will take on colours.

You are not a freak.

Try this spooky experiment but don't tell Paul as he will transfere it to kitchen science.

Colour Change Casper
If your Halloween party is becoming rowdy try this eye tricking experiment. Children have to concentrate on a picture of a ghost. This usually quietens them down as concentration requires quiet!
 
What you need:
   Some sheets of blank white paper (A4 is fine)
   A thick red and a thick black felt tip
   A bright light (sunlight or a table lamp)

What to do:
1.   Draw the outline of a ghost (about 8cm high) on the left hand side of a blank piece of white paper.
2.   Colour in the ghost with the red felt tip.
3.   Hold the paper with the ghost on it at arms length.
4.   Make sure a bright light is shining on the paper either by standing close to a window or by pointing a lamp at the page.
5.   Stare hard at the ghost for about 30 seconds. Stare at the same place in the centre of the ghost. If you need to blink do it quickly.
6.   After the 30 seconds are up, blink your eyes quickly once and then stare at the right hand side of the paper. This area should be blank but you may see something strange.
TIP: You should see a green ghostly image but if you don’t try blinking a few times and staring at white paper again. If this still doesn’t work repeat the experiment again with a brighter light shining on the paper.

I exSPECTRE want to know what’s happening:
The reason why you see a different coloured image after staring hard at a coloured ghost is that you have tired out the light receptor cell at the back of your eyes. Coloured light detector cells are called cones and no you can’t eat ice-cream out of them! There are three types of cones. Each type detect either red, green or blue light allowing you to see all possible colours by colour mixing. White light is made by combining red, green and blue light so all cones are stimulated when you see white light. If you stare at a red ghost your red cones will get tired and the longer you look at red the less signals the red cones send on to your brain. When you change and stare at the white paper the green and blue cones tell the brain that they are being stimulated but the red cones are too tired to send any more messages for the ghost’s position on the eye. You should now see a blue/green ghost floating on white paper as only the blue and green cones are sending messages to the brain where the ghost was positioned. Repeat the experiment with a black ghost.

Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 16/02/2009 22:28:37
Hmm, maybe you're right John:)

But I have a memory of them becoming more visible when looking at bright spots.

John I didn't say that you would see 'floaters' when pressing on your eyes.
I said that that colours and shapes you will see then is a way of your brain interpreting electrochemical stimuli coming from your optic nerve due to the pressure placed on those eyeballs by your fingers.
 
I will split my first comment in two so that one can see that I was talking about two things more easy.

I also have a vauge memory that if you close your eyes with a bright light shining on them you will also be able to see those 'floaters'

http://www.triadpublishing.com/eyecarereports/floaters.shtml
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 16/02/2009 23:50:41
Thanks for that, yor_on. And that link was very interesting.

Sorry about the confusion with your previous post. Your comments were clearly and intelligently put. It was my response that was misleading.

Yes, I realised you weren't suggesting that floaters are made visible when your eyes are closed or by applying pressure. I was pointing out, though, that my blotches are. Which is why I said that I thought that my blotches are the result of a different phenomenon to yours. Because I referred to all your comments using a single paragraph I seemed like I was mixing them up.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 17/02/2009 00:04:54
Hi Make it Lady

That's fantastic! I thought we had this licked with Techmind's answer. But it really seems like you might have hit the nail on the head. And very entertaining too.

At the stage where you look at the blank paper and see the blue/green floating ghost, what happens if you close your eyes and cover them so they are in darkness. Do your eyes continue to generate an image? And if so what colour is it?

I'd like to hear your answer but I'll try it myself as well.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/02/2009 04:12:17
Mr Chem?
Does this mean that you see glades as a threat to our security?
Eh? I don't know what you mean [???][???]

-----
Thanks for the reply Mr.yor_on [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/02/2009 04:14:31
Hi Chem

That would worry me. Are you a fit person? Has this happened before?

I would be tempted to check that out with my GP. Be careful. [:)]
It has happened once, at exactly the same event: the 100 m sprint! All the other running is fine but I must not have warmed up properly or I am simply just not used to the explosive nature of the 100m!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Make it Lady on 17/02/2009 16:53:44
I quite often get a rush of blood to my head after sprinting (not that I do it any more, far too creaky.) You must remember that you do have blood vessels feeding your eyes so sudden changes in blood pressure can change your vission.

 John I've not tried out what you said about shutting your eyes. I will let you have a go as I have been doing eggciting eggsperiments al day with 5 to 11 year olds. I'm bloody knackered.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 17/02/2009 17:49:31
Mr Chem?
Does this mean that you see glades as a threat to our security?
Eh? I don't know what you mean [???][???]

Well Sir, there are some associating open places with danger, and as we already established the connection is there (exhaustion/danger)...
It all depends of course, in a serious 'situation' that feeling might be shared amongst all involved I would say?
It can't help but start me wondering again, though?

You wouldn't, by any chance, enjoy a nice swim and boating now and again?
Ah, like those fellows? http://www.specialboatservice.co.uk/
Sounds like they're giving a really good service, although I couldn't for the world find out about their fares?
(Awh, it just sort of 'popped up':)
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Make it Lady on 17/02/2009 23:15:32
Are you on drugs?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 18/02/2009 02:56:19
Are you on drugs?
F*** no!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 19/02/2009 07:38:54
You wouldn't, by any chance, enjoy a nice swim and boating now and again?
Ah, like those fellows? http://www.specialboatservice.co.uk/
Sounds like they're giving a really good service, although I couldn't for the world find out about their fares?
Well I do enjoy an odd boat and swim around the harbour.
The Special Boat Service certainly looks very attractive.
You know how I am with the Navy/Army. [:)]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: chris on 19/02/2009 09:49:21
Quick. Someone come and rescue me. Chem4me is making me think I'm a freak. Surely someone has experienced this colour change phenomenon. Anybody?????

This is true - I too have experienced colour changes like this. It's down to retinal processing I think. The retina "tunes" itself to maintain the best visual signal and optimum signal to noise. If the photoreceptors are bleached by intense light (which paradoxically shuts them off rather than turns them on) then there is a compensatory re-tuning effect in the deeper layers of the retina, producing different colour perceptions.

Chris
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: techmind on 19/02/2009 10:50:35
I've sure I've posted it before, but here's a cool illusion that'll demonstrate some of the weird stuff the eye/brain does...
http://astarte.csustan.edu/~tom/cool-stuff/
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: John Chapman on 20/02/2009 22:32:27
Hi Chris

Thanks for your support


Techmind, that's interesting. That illusion involves generating a green colour in place of the purple. Just as happens with my blotches. That can't be a coincidence. Any idea what the mechanism is?

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 09/03/2009 20:38:25
Are you on drugs?

Nope, on a couch.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 10/03/2009 05:04:54
[ Invalid Attachment ]
Hey I can see the green dots moving if I try hard enough.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 10/03/2009 05:16:12
Are you on drugs?

Nope, on a couch.
Is couch a secret code name for drugs? [:)]
Btw, that's my drugs couch!
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 11/03/2009 02:24:51
Nope no drugs.

Just goodies:)

Have a beer on me then, Mr Chem.
(As you already  seems to have taken my couch:)
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 11/03/2009 03:05:15
Just goodies:)
What on Earth? Who on Earth?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Astronomer_FB on 11/03/2009 03:58:47
if i stare at a light bulb for 3 seconds and then look away i see a green bulb next to it for a second or two.  i do know somewhat of what you are talking about, when i was little in elem i would close my eyes and puch them in and i would see black and grey colors forming images and going faster and intensifing. anyone ever done that?
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 11/03/2009 05:26:15
Pushing in my eyeballs right now, I can see colours too. [:)]
There was something about this earlier in this thread.
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Karen W. on 11/03/2009 07:29:08
I see what looks like a green light leading all the pinkish lavender lights around the circle.... like the head of a snake! LOL
Title: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Dou9las on 03/06/2009 15:19:30
Quick. Someone come and rescue me. Chem4me is making me think I'm a freak. Surely someone has experienced this colour change phenominum. Anybody?????
I woke up this a.m. and saw some "after images" without having looked into any bright lights...(scary!!) I found this forum while searching for info.

John, I too see "complimentary" colors with eyes open v. closed, when seeing after images. Just thought I would send you this link also, it appears to be documented as a normal aspect of seeing after images: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a791215234~db=all~order=page
Specifically, "In some persons, after-images of images occur in complementary colours."

Title: Re: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: Awesome 2000 on 08/08/2013 23:59:48
I know im a little bit late but if u still read this i get the exact same thing
With colour changing and things
Exactly as u tell it
Title: Re: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: IamYou on 25/02/2014 22:54:38
I found this upon searching for people with similar experiences.  In the animated gif that is in this post when i focus on the center all purple color completely dissapears and I just get left with a green ball that bounces around. 

I've had this happen to me ever since i was a kid.  When I look at light and I close my eyes i see an imprint left.  It's usually purple or green and I can slowly see the color fade away.  I want to use the analogy of a puddle of water slowly evaporating.

(the puddle is the color and spots left in my eye)

Also I believe this is related to the issue of me sneezing when I look at light at certain times of day.
Title: Re: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: dlorde on 28/02/2014 09:08:39
If you want to know the details behind how and why you see weird after-image colours, there's a 2005 paper by Paul Churchland called 'Chimerical Colors: Some Phenomenological Predictions from Cognitive Neuroscience (http://web.gc.cuny.edu/cogsci/private/Churchland-chimeric-colors.pdf)', which describes a complete model of human colour vision with enough detail to allow you to predict what colours you'll see under different conditions.

It gets a bit technical in places, but if you're patient, you'll come to a section near the end that shows you how you can see completely new colours that you'll never see normally; these are the chimerical colours of the title, self-luminous colours, and hyperbolic colours.

It's literally an eye-opener, but you'll need a colour-accurate printer to get the best results.
Title: Re: Why does looking at a bright light give you spots before your eyes?
Post by: yor_on on 28/04/2014 20:32:36
A cool read Dlorde. I'm looking forward to read it,