Is My Brain Broken?

Cognisseur

So, I recently went to an eye-doctor for the first time ever because I knew my vision wasn't great so I wanted contacts. It isn't that bad, like I don't need glasses at all, but I figured if I can upgrade my vision, why not?

Anyway, before the eye exam the assistant gives me some form to check out regarding a variety of possible eye problems. I remembered a phenomena that occurs maybe a couple times a year, if even, for like 5 seconds total. In other words, it's not a big deal in that it doesn't interfere with my life, but it's a weird phenomena so I figured I'd ask the assistant since these people are the experts. The assistant gave me a bug-eyed look like I was crazy, told me he'd never heard of anything like that, and generally has no clue what I'm talking about.

So I figured I'd ask here to see if anyone has experienced or heard of this phenomena or the possible ramification of it.

So I rub my eyes sometimes. Sometimes, I rub them for a while since it feels nice. Occasionally, like once or twice a year, when I stop rubbing my eyes and open my eyes I see something floating across my vision for about 5 seconds after I open my eyes. No, not translucent floaties or anything, but rather...

Well, you know the Mac screen-saver? This one:

Look at the center oval-part, and pretend it was as rainbow multi-colored as the entire picture. So when I open my eyes, I see like 5-10 of these small rainbow ovals (not the strings too, just the oval) floating across my vision. They're quite bright and clear and colorful. 5 seconds later they disappear and I continue with my daily life.

I guess I thought that's what "floaties" were, but apparently not. So what the heck is that?

urahonky

I just had this happen to me today from rubbing my eyes too much. I call them "artifacts" because it's what a computer looks like when your video card overheats. I don't know if it's a bad thing or not, but yeah I know exactly what you're talking about.

matt has a problem

I use to press on my eyes when I was a kid, because it made a crazy flickering pattern appear. It was probably really bad, but meh. It would dissipate a few seconds after I opened them.

Kakodaimonos

What Causes Eye Flashes?

Ordinarily, light entering your eye stimulates the retina. This produces an electrical impulse, which the optic nerve transmits to the brain. The brain then interprets this impulse as light or some type of image.

If the retina is mechanically stimulated (physically touched), a similar electrical impulse is sent to the brain. This impulse is then interpreted as a "flicker" of light.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm

If you're getting the flashes and spots just randomly, get your eyes checked out.

E.Coyote

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

saltiness

It's normal.

President Rex

Phosphenes are probably your answer - especially after rubbing your eyes. Excessive (as in intentional) blinking or looking at bright objects and closing your eyes tends to make them more apparent. Depending on how expansive they are they could be symptomatic of a detached retina or retinal tear.



Speaking of rubbing your eyes: try to avoid doing it. If you have dirt or minor debris stuck under your eyelid (even small enough that you can't feel it) you risk scratching your cornea. Over time this will slowly degrade your vision. There's also the chance of detaching your retina but that's fairly rare. Rubbing also increases the fluid pressure in your eyes which - over a prolonged period - has been linked with glaucoma.

If you have something in your eye follow Inspector Gadget's advice and close your eyes and let your tears bring it out.

(Actual floaters are tiny objects in floating around in the fluid filling the eyeball.)

Al_wat

I'd say this is probably 100% normal. If I rub my eyes harder than normal this happens.

DaMoonRulz

I get them whenever I sneeze, or cough really hard. Looks like a really bright etch-a-sketch