88 replies to this topic

[GaryLeo]

I've looked on sites the internet, but haven't been able to find out about these little darting specks of light that I see when I look up towards the sky. They don't appear to be in the sky, but are more like somehow produced in the actual eye, as I believe they move with the movement of my eyes. They're not "floaters", as they look very different to them (much brighter, for starters). I've never noticed them when I've been indoors, so I think that bright natural light is a factor. So, kind friends, can I ask a few questions of anyone willing to answer any of them, and maybe help me out? :

-Firstly, and most crucially, does anyone know what they are?

-Do you see them?

-Does everyone see them?

-Can anyone provide a good link about them?


Thanks in advance for any help.

[coquina]

Do they only happen when you are outdoors? Does it matter whether it is sunny, cloudy, day or night? When you close your eyes do you still "see" them?

I've seen them sometimes, but usually after I have looked at a bright light, such as a camera flash, thats why I wondered if it happens after you have looked up into a bright, sunny, sky.

You can also "see stars", after a bump on the head.

[ed84c]

Yes, I get them, as coquina says usually in bright light outside.

I get 2 types;1; dark patches moving towards a centeral spot (in summer outside)- often.

2; Something which i liken to tiny worms burrowing in and out of your vision, as there are tiny squiggles that make what looks like black hole- this is less comman and happens at any time. It is more scary when it does happen, because if its a severe case, my eyesight can be hampered.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

I think they're bits of proteins floating around in the eyeballs.

I think. That's what my parents told me when it happened to me.

edit: from swansont's link below, I guess I was close.

[swansont]

flashes and floaters

[Bettina]

Why don't you see an opthalmologist? I do, and they are more than willing to listen to you and provide answers to ease your mind.

Bettina

[GaryLeo]

Coquina - Yep, I'm fairly sure they only happen when I'm outdoors. I've only seem them in the daytime, and I think I can see them when it's cloudy, but I usually notice them more when it's sunny. I can't see them anymore when I close my eyes
One thing I forgot to mention is that I have to let my eyes go out of focus to see them, and it's not just something that happens randomly, as I can actually see them at will, by doing this.
I know what you mean about the flashing lights after bumping your head, but I wouldn't say it's like that much, or at all.

Ed84c - what I get doesn't seem much like the dark patches in your first example, but your second example sounds a bit more like what I get, from the way you described them as squiggles, though my ones don't seem to make a black hole, or disturb my vision afterwards.

Swansont - thanks very much for the link. I thought I was onto something when I saw the name of it was "flashes and floaters", but after reading it, I'm pretty sure that what I see are not light flashes as described on that page. They don't seem like the description given there, and also, the flashes they are describing seem to all be related to things going wrong with the eye, whereas I have been seeing these things for as long as I remember and have never had anything medically wrong with my eyes (short-sightedness aside).

Bettina - I'm not actually concerned that I might have anything wrong with my eyes, more curious as to what these things are, really. But I'll certainly take you're advice and ask about them next time I have an eye check. Why I haven't thought of that before is beyond me!


Thanks very much for your replies so far everyone.

[Molotov]

http://p210.ezboard....ewithvisualsnow

[bascule]

Yup, it's crap floating in your vitreous humor, nothing to see here folks (except little floating squigglies)

[Hellbender]

I read its mostly dead blood cells floating around in your eyes. I have them pretty bad too.

[YT2095]

what is it when you cough or sneeze badly and these little bright lights appear and move around?

I assume it`s some sort of sudden rise in blood pressure, but what are the actual bright things?

[soulestada]

During a moon mission, a few astronauts (maybe one was Buzz Aldron?) experienced little flashes of light, which turned out to be cosmic rays hitting the retina. If I find a link, I will post it, but I don't know if flashes of light from cosmic rays can happen here on Earth.

[muhali3]

YT: I guess if it happens right after you sneeze, then the flashes of light must be some things coming from you mouth, like particles of phlegm or something, it would get in your eye sort of like how people squirt milk out of their eyes.

[bascule]

It happens to me randomly, and hasn't ever been instigated by an event like a sneeze afaik

[losfomot]

I've looked on sites the internet, but haven't been able to find out about these little darting specks of light that I see when I look up towards the sky. They don't appear to be in the sky, but are more like somehow produced in the actual eye, as I believe they move with the movement of my eyes. They're not "floaters", as they look very different to them (much brighter, for starters). I've never noticed them when I've been indoors, so I think that bright natural light is a factor. So, kind friends, can I ask a few questions of anyone willing to answer any of them, and maybe help me out? :

-Firstly, and most crucially, does anyone know what they are?

-Do you see them?

-Does everyone see them?

-Can anyone provide a good link about them?


Thanks in advance for any help.

I am pretty sure I see the same things your talking about. I've looked at some of the 'visual snow' simulations and it is nothing like that at all. I don't even notice them unless I am staring at a blue sky with unfocused eyes. I remember first noticing them when I was a teenager (or maybe even younger). I don't think they are DEAD blood cells, as they are a bit too active. cosmic rays?... I doubt it but who knows?

The best words to describe them that come into my head are 'virtual particles'. I don't know if that's really what they are, but that's how they seem to act... little specks that pop into existence travel a very short distance and then pop out of existence.

I estimate at least a hundred of these things per second in my vision all going in random directions... it's really quite interesting watching them, and I really wish I knew what they were too.

I find it quite difficult to tell if their movement is affected when I look around because they come and go so fast.

Please let me know, GaryLeo, if this description is similar to what you see.

[-Demosthenes-]

I used to see tiny "ripples" through my vision right after I blinked if I paid attention to it. After a while I figured out it was my eye lashes moving across my field of vision right I would blinked

[GaryLeo]

Sorry it's took me so long to reply to the latest here guys, but I haven't been on the board for a while (and didn't really expect any more, to be honest!). Anyway, thanks again to everyone for all the latest input. I had a look at that Visual Snow board, but from what I can decipher from the posts I've looked at, I don't think what I see comes under that, though I couldn't actually find anything there with an overview of what the symptoms of that condition are, so I can't rule it out. Maybe I'll do a post to see if others there experience what I do. So thanks for that Molotov.

Losfomot - I'm quite excited as your description sounds almost exactly the same as what I see! That's the time when I notice them most too - looking up at a blue sky with unfocused eyes (though I tried under a grey cloudy sky the other day, and that worked too, though it took a little longer to see them, and they weren't as clear). I like your description of them as like virtual particles - I once spoke to a man who said that he could see light particles; I don't know whether that's even possible, but I did wonder if he was maybe seeing the same things I do. I can't say for sure if my ones pop out of existence after a short while like you described, but as I'm sure as you'll appreciate, it's pretty hard to keep looking at individual ones, due to their small size and speed (though I will try to find out next time I see them). Like you, I see at least a hundred of them in my field of view at any one time (and probably many more actually).
One interesting thing I've just thought of that I haven't said as yet is that they appear to equally spaced out - I never see any big gaps appear between them, or any noticeable masses of them, or indeed collisions. I don't exactly know what age I first noticed them at, but it was certainly before adulthood.
Anyway, maybe we should pm or e-mail to talk more about them? I'm really pleased someone knows what the hell I'm on about!

Thanks for the latest, guys.

[radiohead]

I think I may have what you are talking about. I have these "floaters" and when I am bored in class, I like to watch them. But, these flashes that I have aren't really flashes. Mine are literally billions of specks of light. I can stare at any color of wall or anything and see these. If I shake my head to get my hair out of my eyes, they specks become more vibrant. If I close my eyes, I can see the specks as clear as day. I can even make "pictures" with them. It's kind of hard to explain. If you have this too, maybe you can elaborate more on it.

EDIT: Also, if I stare at something for an extended period of time, I start to lose my vision. It starts to go black from the corners in. If anyone can explain these, I would love to hear why this happens. An extended period of time is about 1-2 minutes, usually sooner though.

[Clayton2005]

Hi Guys, Did anybody get the bottom of the random little darting specks of light that I also see on a fine day outside whenever I unfocus my eyes at will. I'm just interested to know what they are and thats all! I have emailed GaryLeo and Losfomot and have had no reply. Its very interesting. I have yearly eye examinations/photographs and they are fine. This whole floater flasher thing is something entirely different and My blood pressure is fine!. Any sensible reply appreciated.

Clayyts