why when i close my eyes i see flashing lights

Why Do I See Flashing Lights When I Close My Eyes?

Have you ever closed your eyes and suddenly seen flashing lights or zigzagging patterns? This phenomenon is more common than you might think. In most cases, these flashes of light are not caused by external factors like bright lights or other objects in the environment.

Instead, they often stem from internal changes within your eye itself. So what's happening inside that could lead to such visual experiences?

The culprit behind these flashes is usually a gel-like substance called vitreous humor that fills the space between your retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye) and your lens. As we age, this gel can shrink or change consistency, causing it to pull on the retina.

This pulling action can be likened to when you tie an elastic band around a balloon too tight – eventually, it will snap! Similarly, in our eyes, as the vitreous humor shrinks or changes texture due to aging (or sometimes from injury), it can cause tiny tears and micro-hemorrhages on the retina.

When this happens, signals are sent through your optic nerve to your brain which interpreates them as flashes of light. This is why you might see small dots or spots darting across your field of vision when you rub your eyes too hard or have been hit in the face recently.

It's worth noting that while these kinds of visual disturbances can be quite distressing at first glance (pun intended!), they're generally harmless and usually resolve on their own within a few minutes without any lasting effects.

However, if you experience frequent episodes accompanied by other symptoms such as double vision, nausea or sensitivity to light and movement – it's always best to consult an eye doctor just in case there might be something more serious going on with your peepers!

In conclusion, the next time you find yourself staring blankly into space only for bright lights start dancing across your retinas out of nowhere - take comfort knowing that they're probably nothing more than a harmless side effect of aging or maybe even just a sign that it's been too long since last gave those eyes (and brain) a well-deserved break!

Why when i close my eyes i see flashing lights