Slightly different but similar and related:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_field_entoptic_phenomenon
Always wondered what this was called. I get this often in winter, less during summer. It really puzzled me the first few times it happened, I just figured I was getting diabetes. I have a black tail that follows them so it’s even more noticeable then in the picture.
Visual snow is different, it’s constant and looks more like tv static or film grain, fun stuff, not.
I believe this is another related, simililar, yet technically different phenomenon, with different causal mechanisms, but yes, lets keep adding to the list, lol.
Also, brb, you’ll never believe this, apparently my pizza delivery guy’s name is ‘Hiro Protagonist’, he’s almost here, and I gotta ask him what is up with that name.
dude he has your pizza. he’s a fucking hero don’t you forget it
I didn’t realise these were white blood cells. Thanks for the read.
You sure you don’t have high blood pressure?
I mean, now maybe, lol, but I noticed this as a middle schooler, and I was in pretty good shape back then… and I still have the exact same experience to this day, in the right lighting conditions, if I can just sit or stand still and look at a mostly cloudless sky.
I most commonly see these these when I have a migraine, really bad sneezes, or I flick my eyes or move my head quickly. I’ve heard it’s fine unless you see a bug chunk at the same time as that could be a sign the retina has broken or come loose?
Fun fact, this is because your vitreous humour is shrinking and as it shrinks bits of it congeal into little protein strings. They’re called floaters, but some people laugh whenever I say that for some reason.
If you get a bunch of new ones all of a sudden it may mean you’re at increased risk for retinal detachment.
To help the the confusion, “floaters” can refer to when small chunks of poop dont flush and instead stay floating during the flush.
The way its been described to me is that if you suddenly see a snow storm in your eye then you need to get to the doctor immediately
Pretty sure I fucked up my eyes from psychedelics even though I didn’t trip more than 5 or so times in my life. I took some golden teachers and I noticed that my glasses felt like they were in the way of my eyes. I took them off and I could legit see. I need glasses to see anything that is 2 feet away from me, all I see are huge masses of colors and blobs without them on since I was about 9. Ever since that trip I see weird shit randomly, especially when I’m nervous, it just swirls and flashes. Eye doctor says nothing is wrong, I’m just seeing floaters. Shits weird.
Lol, HPPD goes brrrrr.
I can’t tell you if this is what you’re experiencing, but worth a read if you haven’t come across the term before: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogen_persisting_perception_disorder
I had heard of it before but hadn’t read much about, mostly from fear that it would be true, like this part of the wiki article hits too close because I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what I’m experiencing. FML.
“Many report that their visual distortions become more pronounced or even emerge during periods of heightened anxiety or stress.”
I’d recommend seeking out a therapist if it causes you distress, specifically one with some clinical interest in psychedelics if possible (keywords include ‘integration therapy’). Know that while there’s still a lot to learn about HPPD, you are not alone, and in a lot of cases it can be managed. It’s mostly a question of recognizing your triggers and developing tools to work through them (so if stress is a trigger, stress reduction techniques; abstinence from cannabis or other drugs if that’s a trigger (pretty common), etc.)
Some folks just kinda roll with it, but there is stuff you can do to help manage.
Congratulations! You are getting older. They are called eye floaters and most people have them in some compacity. I notice them mostly when looking at the blue sky on a sunny day.
I’ve seen these since at least the time i developed long term memory as a small child.
if they’re only dots yours might be the blue field entoptic phenomenon which is different. they’re just blood cells flowing before your retina and it’s totally normal.
Nah, worms/proteins and all. Varies in density over long periods of time(3-6mo) between never noticing it and it being slightly annoying.
Wiki says it’s not uncommon even at young ages.
You can also see the individual white blood cells flowing through the vessels your eyes this way. It’s actually really neat. It’s called the Blue Field Entoptic Phenomenon.
Squiggly line in my eye, fluid.
I see you there, lurking on the periphery of my vision.
But when I try to look at you, you scurry away.
Are you shy squiggly line?
Why only when I ignore you do you return to the center of my eye?
Oh squiggly line, it’s alright, you are forgiven.
Real life needs better writing
The Germans call them “flying mosquito’s”
In Australia we call them eye snags
i got a floater in my eye
I had some since childhood and as a child trying to explain these to people lead nowhere, and I just thought I had something nobody else had. Then, years later, the internet came, and some random post like this came, and I went holy shit! It was amazing to finally know what it was and that they really aren’t a big deal.
They’re not a big deal unless you get a lot of them all of a sudden. Then it’s an emergency.
Beats “miodesopsia” from my language
Having an astigmatism that changes really frequently means I notice these more obviously within months of changing my prescription. Fuck these things!
wait does it mean my prescription needs changing? i dont know if i read that right
Near-sightedness makes you more likely to notice them, but I don’t think it’s a serious sign of anything unless you’re seeing them so much that it’s a problem. They’re always there in healthy eyes, your brain just tunes them out most of the time. I would assume that changes in the way your eye focusses - either because of a change in the actual eye like the person above describes or because of a change in the prescription of glasses changing the light that enters your eye - just makes it more likely for your brain to not tune them out because they suddenly look a bit different to what your brain got used to
This! Thanks a lot for the explanation. My optician spouse explained it like this to me too
For some reason this comment is what made me finally realise that I haven’t seen floaters since I stopped needing glasses
Huh … I never noticed that I stopped noticing my floaters after getting glasses. When you have something like that for decades, you stop actively seeing those things.
Immediately made me think of Baldurs Gate
You’re turning into a mind flayer!
Seen them for decades, but thought it’s best to keep them a secret. Until Family Guy just casually mentioned them like they were no big deal! Not as crazy as I thought, after all …
It’s light refracting through otherwise invisible bacteria on your eyeball.
There are no bacteria in your eye. These perceptual disturbances are due to increased retinal sensitivity to vitreous substance. It’s why they move when around like they’re in liquid when you turn your head fast.
Pretty sure that’s incorrect.
The common type of floater, present in most people’s eyes, is due to these degenerative changes of the vitreous.
Well, it’s what I always heard. But I’ll retract my previous comment.
It’s bacteria eating your optical nerves
Honestly haven’t seen em in years…
They left.
How did you take the screenshot?
Not this again
He sneezed and farted at the same time
Burpsnart reference?
No, that’s a screenshart. A screenshot is taken by blowing your nose when you have a sinus infection.
Honestly the worst feeling only thing comparable would be dropping the soap.
In thw prison shower
Don’t threaten me with a good time young man.
Yes, since as long as I can remember. Welcome to the alien hive mind comrade! /s
Nope, you’re the only person ever to have seen this weird stuff. It’s probably a sign that you’re about to die.
