What causes the odd images I see sometimes when rubbing my eyes?

Question

Yes, it's normal, so what is it? I rub my eyes and sometimes these zigzagged, static, colorful, optical-illusionesque images appear... Erm, how?

Answer 1

I get that too.

I think it's from bits of irregular fluid across you eye after yo rub them, or a partial distortion in shape.

Hmm.... One of lifes great mysteries i guess?

Answer 2

dude! i love doing that! its awesome but bad for ur eyes cus ur actually moving ur pupil. u see wen u close ur eyes u still get light perception as well as invisible rays of colored gas and light. u cant see em wit ur ur eyes open cus its to much light. but when u close ur eyes tightly or rub em its dark and thats when u see em. the colors scientificly proven but no1 knows why they make patterns

Answer 3

Oh I dont know. I do have the same problem though. Mines just gets blurry.I dont know how that happens.

Answer 4

Yeah, it's really cool :P

What happens is that your photoreceptor cells, the rods (the cells which are responsible for mainly night vision) and the cones (the cells which are responsible for day vision, resolution and colors) are hard wired to never see darkness. I really don't know why. So when you close your eyes, you see those small differently colored bright spots, and when you rub your eyes and stimualte them, you get more small and colored bright spots, in the form of zigzag lines and such.

Answer 5

(can not give an answer)

but isn't it awesomely weird?

Answer 6

I think everyone gets that,.

its probably light coming through the gaos LOL x

Answer 7

maybe its your blind spot or something...idk

thats what i think.

Answer 8

The photo receptors that pick up light are also sensitive to pressure. When you rub your eyes the stimulation must be similar in intensity to catching the sun or a flash bulb. It isn't very good because it does put a lot of pressure on the eyeballs. It also disturbs the several protective layers of moistures, oils, and proteins on your cornea and front of the eye. That's why it's blurry for a while after wards.

If your eyes are irritated it's good to practice yawning. Yawning brings natural yawning tears and increases circulation to the head and eyes. Look ma no Visine.