Do you see anything when you rub your eyes?

gluten · 05-04-2010, 12:48 PM

Hello all, i just wanted to ask anyone what they see when they close their eyes, or when they rub their eyes? Apart from just black, i have seen a similar thing for as long as i can remember. It is kind of like a darkish grid or pixels that disappear off into the distance, with reddish sort of blotches or clouds in the foreground. It is weird, but i was interested if anyone else has a similar or different experience?

**tony_grego** · 05-04-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gluten

Hello all, i just wanted to ask anyone what they see when they close their eyes, or when they rub their eyes? Apart from just black, i have seen a similar thing for as long as i can remember. It is kind of like a darkish grid or pixels that disappear off into the distance, with reddish sort of blotches or clouds in the foreground. It is weird, but i was interested if anyone else has a similar or different experience?

Yes, i also see little lights, or lighted clouds, ... well also depends on what I have eaten (and / or drunk) above, how many hours i have slept tonight, and if I just look at the sun or bright light...
It is not uncommon for me to see small balls lit across the black of my eyes ...
I do not care for it, simply open my eyes.

Salut !

**dbailey** · 05-05-2010, 08:04 PM

yep, this is normal, pressure changes caused by rubbing the eyes will have the effect of making the light receptor cells in the retina discharge a signal. This will travel down the optic fibres and nerve to the brain where the visual cortext percieves it as colour flashes or shapes.

If this happens with closed eyes and no rubbing it is time for a visit to the medicos just to be safe

eelcat · 05-05-2010, 08:09 PM

Yes I remember on a couple of occasions, but can't recall the circumstances, where rubbing my eyes caused a terrific psychedelic light show....and actually continued for maybe 5 or 10 seconds after the eyes were opened

Alvin Lucifer · 05-05-2010, 08:15 PM

If you're looking at VEF and it's your eyes you're rubbing, you're doing it the wrong way!

**tony_grego** · 05-05-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvinlucifer

If you're looking at VEF and it's your eyes you're rubbing, you're doing it the wrong way!

Maybe no so wrong, if you're rubbing after watch some images of Kyla, Hale, or someone of many many incredible women we have here.

Salut !

**DTravel** · 05-06-2010, 05:43 AM

What do I see?

My fingers?

Alvin Lucifer · 05-06-2010, 07:26 PM

I had a bad psychedelic experience when I was 18 in which I rubbed my eyes and saw the familiar paisley patterns and flaming fountains....and when I opened my eyes they wouldn't go away! So, I closed my eyes and repeated the process hoping to erase them. Then I got more paisley patterns and flaming fountains transposed on the first ones. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Panic set in. That's what they call a "freak out." It could have been an exquisitely beautiful combination of kaleidoscopics and fireworks if my heart wasn't pounding a thousand bpm and I didn't feel like I was going to DIE! Oh, bad luck that!

BTW, the technical term for this is "phosphene," which is a type of entoptic phenomena (ent- means inner, -optic means eye), which is most commonly caused by mechanical stimulation of retinal cells via rubbing the eyelids. Hallucinogenic drugs, sense deprivation, electrical stimulation, magnetic fields, low cranial blood pressure, and certain ophthalmological diseases can also cause phosphenes.*

*Greek roots: Phos (light) and phainein (to show)

**billybunter** · 05-06-2010, 07:46 PM

Depends what you're on

but yes I get the same kinda thing.

gluten · 05-08-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybunter

Depends what you're on

but yes I get the same kinda thing.

what do you mean 'same kinda' ? Do you mean the pixels with reddish cloudy stuff in the foreground ?

05-04-2010, 12:48 PM	#1
gluten Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 302 Thanks: 1,662 Thanked 1,597 Times in 301 Posts	Do you see anything when you rub your eyes? Hello all, i just wanted to ask anyone what they see when they close their eyes, or when they rub their eyes? Apart from just black, i have seen a similar thing for as long as i can remember. It is kind of like a darkish grid or pixels that disappear off into the distance, with reddish sort of blotches or clouds in the foreground. It is weird, but i was interested if anyone else has a similar or different experience?

05-06-2010, 05:43 AM	#7
DTravel Veteran Celebrity Stalker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: On a cyber-cultural archaeological expedition to the far side of sanity! Posts: 6,797 Thanks: 4,291 Thanked 52,349 Times in 7,345 Posts	What do I see? My fingers? __________________ Zen and the Art of Screencapping

05-06-2010, 07:26 PM	#8
Alvin Lucifer Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts Posts: 318 Thanks: 2,510 Thanked 1,415 Times in 296 Posts	I had a bad psychedelic experience when I was 18 in which I rubbed my eyes and saw the familiar paisley patterns and flaming fountains....and when I opened my eyes they wouldn't go away! So, I closed my eyes and repeated the process hoping to erase them. Then I got more paisley patterns and flaming fountains transposed on the first ones. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Panic set in. That's what they call a "freak out." It could have been an exquisitely beautiful combination of kaleidoscopics and fireworks if my heart wasn't pounding a thousand bpm and I didn't feel like I was going to DIE! Oh, bad luck that! BTW, the technical term for this is "phosphene," which is a type of entoptic phenomena (ent- means inner, -optic means eye), which is most commonly caused by mechanical stimulation of retinal cells via rubbing the eyelids. Hallucinogenic drugs, sense deprivation, electrical stimulation, magnetic fields, low cranial blood pressure, and certain ophthalmological diseases can also cause phosphenes.* Greek roots: Phos* (light) and phainein (to show) Last edited by Alvin Lucifer; 05-06-2010 at 07:44 PM..

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05-05-2010, 08:04 PM	#3
dbailey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wharfedale, Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,768 Thanks: 91,730 Thanked 14,053 Times in 1,913 Posts	yep, this is normal, pressure changes caused by rubbing the eyes will have the effect of making the light receptor cells in the retina discharge a signal. This will travel down the optic fibres and nerve to the brain where the visual cortext percieves it as colour flashes or shapes. If this happens with closed eyes and no rubbing it is time for a visit to the medicos just to be safe

05-05-2010, 08:09 PM	#4
eelcat Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 645 Thanks: 3,100 Thanked 4,791 Times in 799 Posts	Yes I remember on a couple of occasions, but can't recall the circumstances, where rubbing my eyes caused a terrific psychedelic light show....and actually continued for maybe 5 or 10 seconds after the eyes were opened

05-05-2010, 08:15 PM	#5
Alvin Lucifer Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts Posts: 318 Thanks: 2,510 Thanked 1,415 Times in 296 Posts	If you're looking at VEF and it's your eyes you're rubbing, you're doing it the wrong way!

05-06-2010, 07:46 PM	#9
billybunter THE WHO FAN Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Teak Tough Streets Of Belfast Posts: 12,403 Thanks: 49,075 Thanked 169,398 Times in 13,844 Posts	Depends what you're on but yes I get the same kinda thing.