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What Causes Phosphene Optical Illusions?
Question: Is this normal?
Always thought it was a normal phenomenon
Basically my husband was wearing a bright red top last night with bright blue stripes.
Out the corner of my eye where these colours meet I could see temporary flash?
Like is say had it with bold colours over years and never thought anything of it?? Now wonder what causes it?
Similar one is my changing bag it's horizontal blue and white stripes and when I look at it appears to be fuzzy / jumpy again never worried as thought normal?
Always thought it was a normal phenomenon
Basically my husband was wearing a bright red top last night with bright blue stripes.
Out the corner of my eye where these colours meet I could see temporary flash?
Like is say had it with bold colours over years and never thought anything of it?? Now wonder what causes it?
Similar one is my changing bag it's horizontal blue and white stripes and when I look at it appears to be fuzzy / jumpy again never worried as thought normal?
Brief Answer:
It's normal. It's phosphene optical illusions.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
I have carefully read your query. There is no disease process (pathological), and the afterimages that you can visualize upon gazing at high contrast colors is normal (physiological). So, you are OK. There is a very interesting medical scientific explanation, as to why you "see" these images. This is clinically called as phosphene imagery. This is due to rapid depletion of the retinal pigments (biochemicals) in your eyes upon exposure to high contrast. The other explanation in tandem is when you see high contrast colors, there is a pseudo communication between the left and right cerebral hemispheres via the corpus callosum, resulting in the phenomena of "Optical illusions". Colors can "trick" the brain. It is also because of this miscommunication to and fro from the optic radiations to the visual cortices of your brain, that you can perceive an optical illusion of a sterogram as a 3 dimensional object whereas in reality it is merely a sheet of specially printed contrasts on paper.
I would like your opinions about this.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
It's normal. It's phosphene optical illusions.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
I have carefully read your query. There is no disease process (pathological), and the afterimages that you can visualize upon gazing at high contrast colors is normal (physiological). So, you are OK. There is a very interesting medical scientific explanation, as to why you "see" these images. This is clinically called as phosphene imagery. This is due to rapid depletion of the retinal pigments (biochemicals) in your eyes upon exposure to high contrast. The other explanation in tandem is when you see high contrast colors, there is a pseudo communication between the left and right cerebral hemispheres via the corpus callosum, resulting in the phenomena of "Optical illusions". Colors can "trick" the brain. It is also because of this miscommunication to and fro from the optic radiations to the visual cortices of your brain, that you can perceive an optical illusion of a sterogram as a 3 dimensional object whereas in reality it is merely a sheet of specially printed contrasts on paper.
I would like your opinions about this.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Well that makes sense.
Been now looking at other things which so same thing! Never noticed before (until looking for it)
Similar is garage door white with horizontal white panels also looks fuzzy when stared at or XXXXXXX work in sunlight ?
Had my eyes checked 6 months ago and fine...
Do you think it's possible to notice thing more if concentrating / focusing on it?
Been now looking at other things which so same thing! Never noticed before (until looking for it)
Similar is garage door white with horizontal white panels also looks fuzzy when stared at or XXXXXXX work in sunlight ?
Had my eyes checked 6 months ago and fine...
Do you think it's possible to notice thing more if concentrating / focusing on it?
Brief Answer:
You can recognize further detail by gazing over an object.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
You can try an interesting science experiment. If the human eye gazes constantly at a non flourescent light source like a candle, one can see haloes and afterimages.
The point? This strengthens the neural networks in the brain and across nations and cultures, this practice has been taken up by people to sharpen their concentration.
I feel and think that since you have head your eyes checked up 6 months back, there is no disease in your vision. This is a medical scientific phenomena.
Your second question is very interesting. Gazing at an object, and conditioning the mind to recognize the depth of it's detail is an actual technique used by the military, when soldiers are trained to fight in total darkness. This is possible, and yes, indeed as you have asked, it is possible to notice fine detail of you look towards the general direction of the object and move you eyes to and fro from left to right. (Visual saccades).
I am open to further academic questions from your kind self.
I would like to reiterate that I feel that you do not have any illness.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
You can recognize further detail by gazing over an object.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
You can try an interesting science experiment. If the human eye gazes constantly at a non flourescent light source like a candle, one can see haloes and afterimages.
The point? This strengthens the neural networks in the brain and across nations and cultures, this practice has been taken up by people to sharpen their concentration.
I feel and think that since you have head your eyes checked up 6 months back, there is no disease in your vision. This is a medical scientific phenomena.
Your second question is very interesting. Gazing at an object, and conditioning the mind to recognize the depth of it's detail is an actual technique used by the military, when soldiers are trained to fight in total darkness. This is possible, and yes, indeed as you have asked, it is possible to notice fine detail of you look towards the general direction of the object and move you eyes to and fro from left to right. (Visual saccades).
I am open to further academic questions from your kind self.
I would like to reiterate that I feel that you do not have any illness.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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