I've always called it kaleidoscoping, but the thought just hit me that I don't know the proper name for it.
It's called photopsia, phosphenes (like when you rub your eyes or move from a dark to light place) are just one part of it. I get a mix of kaleidoscopic colours as well as 'waves' flowing in different directions, it's pretty cool tbh. I get my own personal fireworks show whenever I focus on it.
I used to get these a lot as a child, now I just...don't
Same! Sometimes they would cover my vision even when my eyes were open!
If you stand up really fast after sitting down for a long time you'll probably see them again.
Have you ever done psychedelics? I didn't used to have it to the degree you describe until after I'd done mushrooms a handful of times. It always gets more intense in the days/weeks after a trip but at this point I think to a degree it's permanent and I consider it a positive effect. I like to watch it to help me fall asleep
Yes, I had more than enough psychedelics in my early 20's before getting into plant medicines like Ayahuasca. My vision has been like this for as long as I can remember but it may have intensified since taking psychedelics without me noticing.
Would that include purple blobs that comes and goes when I'm in the dark (ie trying to sleep) Usually when I see em, purple blobs form in my vision, then shrink like it's going down the drain, and repeat every few seconds.
No pain or any vision issues, just interesting to know there is a word for it.
Those are called phosphenes also but what's interesting about seeing things like that in the dark is that it's caused by your brain still trying to make sense of what it's seeing, so it just creates colorful visual 'static'.
When it happens, do the blobs usually show up like they're highlighting around an object or an area that might be lighter or darker than its surroundings?
Old school friend of mine used to call it Eye World 🌎
I used to call mine zebra lights bc they were black and white flowing stripes haha
I like this one
I had a friend who called it "eye sliding."
The official, super science-y term for those lights, colors, and patterns you see when your eyes are closed is phosphenes. Basically, it's not external light, but your brain and eyes just kinda doing their own thing, firing off signals when there's no actual visual input.
I call it Eyelid Movies.
They’re called phosphenes - your retina firing test shots once the lights go out. Even the dark puts on a light show.
Can't remember where I heard this from, but I've heard it referred to as "Prisoners' Cinema." The colors and shapes get more intense when you gently press on your eyelids with your palms, and I guess prisoners used to do that out of boredom.
The is if your sitting long enough in a cell staring at a wall it will happen even with your eyes open because your brain get so little Visual stimulation that it starts hallucinating
I used to do that for fun when I was a kid! The shit we did to entertain ourselves before 6 year olds were given phones...
Would be great if someone could make an animation of what they see.
Eigengrau
FYI not everyone can see things when they close their eyes. Shoutout to my fellow members of /r/aphantasia
I don't mean this as a "Grrrrrr not everyone can do this!" more as a "fun fact" but it's not very fun so I didn't want to say "fun fact"
Edit: I'm getting downvotes I guess because I didn't answer OP's question, which is fair, I just thought people may like to know that not everyone can see stuff in their head, or if they're like me, that some people actually DO see stuff. I found out me not being able to was a thing when discussing the expression with my wife and being shocked that she meant that she literally can make pictures in her mind and vice versa.
One night in bed when I was a child, I rubbed my eyes, resulting in a magnificent explosion of colors. I did it again, but the result was quite disappointing.
brownout
Do most people see these? I haven't seen those since the last time I did Lucy.
Brilliant question I never even thought to ask.
high
Afterimages also
They’re called phosphenes-AKA brain TV for your eyelids
I always thought they were called floaters.
CLOSED EYE VISUAL DELUSIONS
LSD
Always heard them called “floaties” or “floaters”
That's a phenomenon when your eyes are open.
Nah those are dead cells floating in your eyes while they're open. Very different.
Non-existent.
they’re called phosphenes happen when ur eyes closed but brain still doing its thing)