Scientist Reveals Reason Why You See Strange 'Swirls And Wave' Patterns When You Close Your Eyes

A scientist has shed light on why you might see patterns and colors when you close your eyes.

Imagine this: you crawl into bed, ready to snag a solid seven hours of sleep, preparing for another busy day.

You close your eyes, hoping for darkness and a peaceful drift into dreams.

But instead of the expected pitch black, you're greeted with a vivid display of colors, spirals, and zig-zags, reminiscent of a kaleidoscope or a scene from Disney's Fantasia.

Suddenly, sleep seems like a distant dream.

The Experience

First off, it's a relief to know you're not alone in this.

Many people have taken to social media, worried after experiencing similar visual fireworks.

It's most apparent if you close your eyes in the dark. Getty Stock Images/ Synthetick

One user on X shared: "Do u guys also have that weird thing where u can see colorful patterns when u have your eyes closed pls tell me someone knows what im saying."

Another responded: "YES ITS SO DISTRACTING WHEN IM TRYNA SLEEP"

A third chimed in: "Yes!! It's like a kaleidoscope."

A scientist has since explained why so many people experience these vibrant visuals.

When it Happens

Addressing a seven-year-old's similar questions, Associate Professor Katrina Schmid from Queensland University of Technology described the phenomenon as 'totally normal'.

In an article for The Conversation, she outlined a few scenarios that might cause you to see colors with your eyes shut.

One such scenario occurs if you close your eyes while outside in daylight, in a bright room, or simply under the sun.

Prof. Schmid explained: "Some light does go through your closed eyelids. 

Do you see patterns and swirls when you close your eyes? Getty Stock Images/ Ekaterina Goncharova

"So you might see a dark reddish color because the lids have lots of blood vessels in them, and this is the light taking on the color of the blood it passes through."

However, the most common cause for seeing swirls, colors, and patterns happens when we close our eyes in a darker setting.

Why it Occurs

Prof. Schmid shared that she too sees patterns such as 'dots and sparkles' when she first closes her eyes in the dark. 

These visuals then evolve into 'swirls and waves of colored dots' the longer she remains in the dark.

But why does this happen? 

These visuals are known as 'phosphenes', a normal part of our visual system, described as 'the sensation of light that's not actually caused by light'.

"Our eyes don’t turn off in the dark, but instead, they create very weak internal signals that mimic light. These signals are constantly being made by the cells at the back of your eyes. 

"The swirls and waves we see are made by changes in activity from these cells. The blobs may be colored because the cells in your eyes that detect color also show this activity," Prof. Schmid noted.

She continued: "These signals are transmitted to the brain, and the brain interprets this random activity. 

"Your brain doesn’t know they weren’t produced by real light, so we think we’re seeing colored lights and patterns that aren’t there. It’s a kind of illusion!"

Overall, such illusions are nothing to worry about. 

However, if the patterns become much more obvious and persist, or if the lights become noticeably brighter and linger longer, it may be wise to consult with your optician.