![]() I had never been curious enough prior to this post, but upon consulting my colleague Google it appears the word phosphene has Greek roots in "phos" (light) and "phainein" (to show). You can think of the cells in your eye as runners ready at the beginning of a racetrack, anxious to sprint at the sound of the starter pistol (light), but then someone in the audience opens a can of soda and the loud noise tricks them into a false running start (phosphene). What the "visual" appears to be is completely subjective to the person and typically hard to describe as they are not seen for much time. Similar "fake activation" of these cells has been seen with sneezing and coughing (increased eye pressure), physical trauma (similar to direct rubbing), migraines/headaches (thought to have electrical influence), and even among astronauts in outer space (increased radiation).Īs you can tell, there are a lot of non-specific causes and non-specific "visuals" people report. When zig-zags, Kaleidoscope images occur in a young person associated with headache by far the most common cause is migraine however in older individuals who have never had migraines it can often be due to disease of the heart, brain, blood vessels or eyes or a form of TIA (transient ischemic attack). This is why you typically cannot sustain the image or focus on it because you are not truly "looking" at something or taking in light from a source. The thought is that stimulation of the cells in the eyes from anything that is not light, like rubbing your eyes in this example, can stimulate the cells just enough to "burst" and activate for a brief amount of time. ![]() Basically, any kaleidoscope-like patterns, stars, lines, and swirls have all been categorized under the term phosphene. The "weird colorful patterns" are what most scientists in the eye and neurology fields have called phosphenes. Schedule a functional vision evaluation with a neuro-optometrist and take your first steps towards a lifetime of clear and comfortable vision.Normally, cells in your eye respond to different types of light, allowing you to see colors, shapes, shadows, etc. Visual aura can also occur with other conditions. However, a visual aura is a common symptom of migraine and may occur frequently. A visual aura is not serious and typically goes away quickly. Vision appears broken, fractured, shiny, or very colorful. If a vision problem is detected, your eye doctor may recommend a customized neuro-optometric rehabilitation program to retrain your eye-brain connections and improve your binocular vision.ĭon’t let migraines affect your vision. People experiencing a visual aura may describe their vision as if looking through a kaleidoscope. If you are experiencing migraines or kaleidoscope vision and have ruled out any serious eye or medical conditions, schedule a functional vision evaluation to determine if a binocular visual dysfunction is at the root of your problem. This can lead to eye strain and fatigue and result in painful ocular migraines. When the eyes are misaligned, they cannot work together to produce a clear, single image. ![]() ![]() Ocular migraines are commonly triggered by a binocular visual dysfunction, or a misalignment of the eyes. The most common cause of kaleidoscope vision is an ocular migraine, or a migraine that is accompanied by these visual images.Īround 25 percent of people who suffer from migraines also experience some type of visual disturbance or aura. If you experience a severe headache with visual disturbances, seek immediate medical attention to rule out any serious ocular or medical conditions. Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You ![]()
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