Phosphenes
- “why do i see colours when i rub my eyes”
- “what are phosphenes”
- “do astronauts see flashes”
- “seeing stars meaning”
:: COMPARE ::
PhosphenesvsFloaters
The short answer
Floaters are real shadows, cast on the retina by debris drifting in the vitreous. Phosphenes are light with no light behind it. One is an object; the other is a firing.
Side by side
| Aspect | Phosphenes | Floaters |
|---|---|---|
| Physical object | None | Yes |
| Cause | Neural firing | A shadow |
| Moves with the eye | No | Drifts |
| Producible on purpose | Yes | No |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Phosphenes rather than Floaters are usually searching for phrases like “why do i see colours when i rub my eyes”, “what are phosphenes”, “do astronauts see flashes”.
Read either one in full