If you close your eyes and rub them, what do you see?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphene

Cool! I'm right up there with the Greeks and Sir Isaac Newton!

The most common phosphenes are pressure phosphenes, caused by rubbing or applying pressure on or near the closed eyes. They have been known since antiquity, and described by the Greeks.[5] The pressure mechanically stimulates the cells of the retina. Experiences include a darkening of the visual field that moves against the rubbing, a diffuse colored patch that also moves against the rubbing, well defined shapes such as bright circles that exist near or opposite to where pressure is being applied,[6] a scintillating and ever-changing and deforming light grid with occasional dark spots (like a crumpling fly-spotted flyscreen), and a sparse field of intense blue points of light. Pressure phosphenes can persist briefly after the rubbing stops and the eyes are opened, allowing the phosphenes to be seen on the visual scene. Hermann von Helmholtz and others have published drawings of their pressure phosphenes. One example of a pressure phosphene is demonstrated by gently pressing the side of one's eye and observing a colored ring of light on the opposite side, as detailed by Isaac Newton.[7][8][9]

[pete3799]

You'll grow hair on your palms.....stop it.

[HobieMarty]

https://youtu.be/nGy9uomagO4




Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[zakthor]

What a cool thread. I've wondered about this since before kindergarden. It just doesn't make biological sense that kaleidoscope/grid/geometric patterns would come from the eye cells itself, it must be the brain is producing them, summoning them up for reasons of its own.

Normally I get these patterns from eye pressure (for example pushing with fingers), but I also get it during high intensity exercise.

I also have 'ocular migraines' and get similar intense geometric patterns, sometimes its beautifully rendered julia sets fractal things with what appears to be infinite resolution. In the case of ocular migraine I literally can't see anything else so I've got 15-30 minutes to stare at the shifting patterns.

I'd love to learn more about these patterns, what part of the brain is responsible.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by zakthor

What a cool thread. I've wondered about this since before kindergarden. It just doesn't make biological sense that kaleidoscope/grid/geometric patterns would come from the eye cells itself, it must be the brain is producing them, summoning them up for reasons of its own.

My supposition is this.

Individuals gain experiences as they grow older. So you get experience seeing (and experiencing) all sorts of things. If you see (or experience) something new, your brain tries to extrapolate the new experience based on your library of past experiences. Our brains are able to "fill in blanks" on things, and that seems to me to be especially the case with things that we see (why we see ghosts, ufos, etc...). So I think our brain gets input from our optic nerve, but the input is unknown, so the brain fills in the blanks for us to make what it's receiving fit into our range of experiences.

That's what I'm going with.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by zakthor

…I also have 'ocular migraines' and get similar intense geometric patterns, sometimes its beautifully rendered julia sets fractal things with what appears to be infinite resolution. In the case of ocular migraine I literally can't see anything else so I've got 15-30 minutes to stare at the shifting patterns.

I'd love to learn more about these patterns, what part of the brain is responsible.

Do ocular migraines have pain? There are times when my eyes see sparkles, shapes, etc. All I can do is close them for 15 or 30 minutes until it goes away. No pain involved, but it strikes anytime. fortunately it only happens a few times a year.

[Crowbob]

Ocular migraines can be painless.

However, sometimes visual disturbances can actually be the aura that precedes a classic migraine.

[mattdavis11]

I've gotten an eyelash on my eyeball too many times for me to want to rub my eyes just because I can.

At midnight mass this Christmas past, I suppose I had an ocular migraine( painless.). I had Kaleidoscope vision for about 20 minutes. I was alarmed at first, but with all the candles, lights and decorations glittering and all, it was pretty cool.

I talked to my brother about it the next morning and he said he used to get them all the time, but hasn't had any occurrences since he had stents put in.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

I've gotten an eyelash on my eyeball too many times for me to want to rub my eyes just because I can.

At midnight mass this Christmas past, I suppose I had an ocular migraine( painless.). I had Kaleidoscope vision for about 20 minutes. I was alarmed at first, but with all the candles, lights and decorations glittering and all, it was pretty cool.

I talked to my brother about it the next morning and he said he used to get them all the time, but hasn't had any occurrences since he had stents put in.

put in where?

[NY65912]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Do ocular migraines have pain? There are times when my eyes see sparkles, shapes, etc. All I can do is close them for 15 or 30 minutes until it goes away. No pain involved, but it strikes anytime. fortunately it only happens a few times a year.

Same here. The first time I thought I was having a stroke. Usually happens when I am really really stressed.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by masraum

put in where?

Near his heart, I'm not sure if it was his Widowmaker or not, can't remember. He has had a valve to replaced too

[herr_oberst]

Anybody else ever close their eyes in the pitch dark, wait a few moments and start to see a disc of white light - like you're deep in a cave looking out towards the entrance? I do it sometimes to try and still my brain if I'm having insomnia. I can keep the light centered in my "vision" as long as I give it all my concentration, but the nanosecond my mind wanders the light shifts left or right and fades away until I can conjure up the light again and force my mind to relax. I've even had the light expand and "spike" and sort of animate, but I'm usually asleep before that becomes a thing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Anybody else ever close their eyes in the pitch dark, wait a few moments and start to see a disc of white light - like you're deep in a cave looking out towards the entrance? I do it sometimes to try and still my brain if I'm having insomnia. I can keep the light centered in my "vision" as long as I give it all my concentration, but the nanosecond my mind wanders the light shifts left or right and fades away until I can conjure up the light again and force my mind to relax. I've even had the light expand and "spike" and sort of animate, but I'm usually asleep before that becomes a thing.

I can close my eyes when I'm trying to sleep, and notice that what I "see" is not total darkness. I see colors, very dark, but still, sort of amorphous colors. If that's going on, I know that I need to still my mind. Once I'm ready to actually sleep, my vision goes dark/black. I feel like related to what I'm seeing is also if I feel like I'm having to consciously hold my eyes shut or if they are heavy and will involuntarily stay closed.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Do ocular migraines have pain? There are times when my eyes see sparkles, shapes, etc. All I can do is close them for 15 or 30 minutes until it goes away. No pain involved, but it strikes anytime. fortunately it only happens a few times a year.

When they occur it is like a shadow passes across my vision starting with one eye and sometimes ending with my blind in both eyes. Is called a 'scintilating scotoma' Usually though its just one eye that's impacted.

While it is occurring there's a sort of euphoria but it could just be adrenaline from fear. However... when it is over I am often exhausted to the point where I can't stand. Deep deep brain fatigue and pain for sometimes a few days after. Hurts to breath or think or move. Is a very bad sort of pain that is blunt and hard to describe.

My migraines are also sometimes accompanied by 'aphasia' where I'm unable to perceive text and sometimes I can't even name the letters. When it happens I try and play by reading a word, I can say the letters out loud, I say 20-30 potential words out loud but can't figure out what word it is. My speech is fine I just can't read.

In my case I don't think its caused by 'stress', its being exposed to very bright lights with a dark background. My neighbor's blue-lighted tahoe has set it off a few times at night. Also has happened when boating when the sun is low on the water.

My dr gave me a prescription for rizatriptan, when symptoms start I melt a pill under my tongue and it seems to dramatically shorten the severity of the migraine which seems to lead to a much shorter recovery.

First time I thought I was having a stroke, got a brain mri, etc. So at least I've got a baseline. Its feeling pretty managed now that I have the rizatriptan.