@Stacyasks@lemmy.cafe @nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
Yes. It's called "Eigengrau" and it happens due to the adaptation of the eye amidst the darkness.
this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2025
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The indistinguishability of dark events from photon responses supports this explanation because rhodopsin is at the input of the transduction chain. On the other hand, processes such as the spontaneous release of neurotransmitters cannot be completely ruled out.
So it's like when a camera doesn't have enough light to properly take a photo, producing a lot of grain. Like when you have a high ISO when taking a photo/video in a dark room, it looks very grainy. I guess the eye is still adjusting its "exposure" if you see some of this graininess in the dark (or when you close your eyes?)
the brain is always trying to find pattern in incomplete data. one of the explanations i have seen is that when our ancestors were sitting around the fire, those who saw the tiger or something lurking in the dark had better chance to pass their genes than those who didn't.
it is why we are seeing patterns in clouds and random geometrical shapes on walls and stuff like that.
This is what the night sky starts to look like when I try to look at stars
how did you take this photo? Small camera through your ear?
They just closed their eyes and then pressed in their ear and anus to take a screenshot.
Wow that's so much easier! I've always had to pee and fart at the same time
Idk what piss poor model you guys are, but for me is sneeze & fart, much easier imo.
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This is a normal closed eye hallucination level 1 on this Wikipedia page
Oh shit that's why I can like make shapes and shit when I'm like in deep relaxation
Ever try one of those float tanks? They’re really good for that.
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I see a little “DVD” logo zipping around that changes colour when it bounces off the periphery of my vision.
I saw it hit the corner perfectly once!
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You have too much gain.
But yeah it's normal.
Better than seeing weird letters and 80 style colored geometric shape sliding around.
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I think it's called visual snow, and it's normal.
Seconding this. It's not incredibly common but it's not incredibly uncommon. Research shows that most people who have it don't notice it until it's pointed out. Drugs and stress tend to exacerbate the effect as well.
Visual snow is when you see it with eyes open afaik. But yea, still not terribly abnormal on its own. Visual snow syndrome is a thing though, but it's more than just seeing an abnormal amount of visual snow (the normal amount seems to be when looking at unicolored surfaces and in dim light).
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Probably just your tuner that's unplugged. Feel around for any loose wires.
This is just the result of neurons firing and chemical reactions taking place, and it's normal. Personally, for me it depends on my state of mind when I try to sleep. When agitated, I see noise like in your picture. When calm, I see flat, colorful shapes with soft edges that float around and change shape more or less rapidly (kind of like a lava lamp).
Ohhh yeahhhh the lava lamp like ones are cool. Sometimes vague impressions of cyan and red, sometimes propagating in waves. I'm so glad other people are describing it!
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Mine can vary wildly depending on what kind and the quantity of psychoactive substance I've taken.
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Yes, and if you GENTLY press on your eyelids you can make other colors happen.
Also if you stare at a clear sky, NOT AT THE SUN, or at a bluish wall, you may see little swirly things, it's the white blood cells in your retinas swimming around.
(Blue field entoptic phenomenon - Wikipedia https://share.google/MveakONY2KB3QXUUh)
I see pulsing waves of color, even in pitch black rooms. When I was little they were bright as fireworks, now, depending on the night they're either just vaguely waves of purple, grey, and blue or sometimes electric blue and white.
I was recently reading about this because I discovered there's a name for it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s_cinema
Oh yeah, those things, I get them too sometimes. I always thought they looked like one of those super old Mac screensavers. (I can’t find a picture, but maybe someone here knows the one I mean.)
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I always assumed everyone saw it. I'm not special after all.
Though mine is gray, definitely not purple.
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Welcome to the simulation
I wish it was still 1999 :(
Can I offer you a blue pill in this trying time?
Bro is a CRT
Yes, it's random firings of light receptors from the absolute ocean of potential stimulators for such sensitive cells and sensitive neurons that connect them to your brain.
Your brain does a profoundly involved job at every moment editing your visual input into a coherent, moving picture, but your brain edits out a LOT of interference and noise every moment.
If you really wanna blow your mind and prove it, make a pinhole in a card and in a dark room and look towards a light source. If you wiggle the pinhole light beam across your retina you will suddenly see all the blood vessels that feed your retina. Evolution decided it would put them on the front for some reason, but your brain normally makes it literally disappear for you. When you wiggle the shadows of the vessels, your brain forgets how to edit it and they appear like a mass of floater-spaghetti.
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If you see this when your eyes are open then it may be visual snow.
Visual snow syndrome - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow_syndrome
I have this.... I just thought this was normal vision. I hate my eyes 😔
So did we all, friend. You're one of the tv static people now. Welcome
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I can make static if I squeeze my eyes very tightly, sometimes spots. No one i asked when I was little had the same results. Haven't thought about it in a long time.
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Yeah, though mine doesn't flicker as fast - it kinda moves in slow waves.
for the topic of discussion it might be worthwhile to also look into https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia
1/10 people have it and have no idea it's not normal, my sister and mother too
From m'eye experience. Yes.
I see patterns and colors. Almost like a screensaver.
I personally don’t see it as intensively
probably caused by some small amount of light getting through your eyelids , or random noise in your nerves
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I do.
I see brown and tan herringbone with paisley patterns blooming through it.
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I'm glad to see most people replying yes, I was like "wait, is it not?". The only time I don't see noise is when I look at flat colors on a screen and I'm not a fan.
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