Seeing colored spots in your vision is a common experience. These transient visual disturbances vary widely in appearance and cause. While often temporary and harmless, some instances signal conditions requiring medical attention. This article explores reasons behind seeing colored spots, from everyday occurrences to specific medical conditions.
Everyday Visual Sensations
Many instances of seeing colored spots are benign, resulting from the normal functioning or temporary overstimulation of the eye. A common example is afterimages, which occur when bright light temporarily overstimulates the photoreceptor cells in your retina. Looking at a camera flash or bright light can cause a temporary colored spot as retinal photopigments briefly bleach. This effect is brief and fades as your eyes readjust.
Another common phenomenon is pressure phosphenes, where mechanical stimulation of the retina creates a perception of light or color. Rubbing your eyes, applying gentle pressure, or experiencing sudden head movements can trigger these bright, swirling patterns or colored lights. This happens because the retina’s light-sensing cells are stimulated by physical force rather than actual light. Additionally, prolonged eye strain or fatigue can sometimes lead to vague, transient visual perceptions, including subtle colored spots, due to the eyes’ overexertion.
Migraine Auras and Related Phenomena
Colored spots and other visual disturbances can also be part of a migraine aura, which is a neurological event preceding or accompanying a migraine headache. These auras often manifest as shimmering lights, zig-zag lines, or expanding blind spots that can be colored. The visual changes typically develop gradually over several minutes and usually resolve within an hour, even if a headache follows.
One specific type of visual aura is a scintillating scotoma, characterized by a shimmering, expanding, often colored or zig-zagging blind spot. This visual disturbance starts near the center of vision and can expand, sometimes forming a C-shaped or arc-like pattern with flickering, bright edges. The phenomenon is thought to be related to abnormal electrical activity spreading across the brain’s visual cortex. Some individuals experience ocular migraines, also known as retinal migraines, which involve temporary vision loss or visual disturbances like flashing lights or blind spots specifically in one eye. These are caused by reduced blood flow or spasms in the blood vessels of the retina or behind the eye.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many instances of colored spots are harmless, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical evaluation, as they can indicate more serious underlying eye or neurological conditions. A sudden onset or a significant increase in the number or intensity of colored spots or new types of visual disturbances should prompt a visit to an eye care professional. This is especially true if the spots are accompanied by flashes of light, which often appear as streaks in your peripheral vision.
Other concerning symptoms include a sudden shower of new floaters, which are small dark specks or squiggly lines that drift across your vision. A partial loss of vision, such as a dark curtain or shadow moving across your visual field, also requires urgent attention. Eye pain, redness, double vision, or general vision loss or blurriness accompanying these spots are additional warning signs.
These symptoms could signal conditions such as retinal detachment, where the retina pulls away from its supporting layers, or vitreous detachment, where the eye’s gel-like substance separates from the retina. Optic nerve issues or other neurological concerns, such as a stroke, can also manifest with sudden visual changes, sometimes accompanied by a headache, dizziness, or weakness. Immediate consultation with an optometrist or ophthalmologist is important to diagnose and address any serious conditions to help preserve vision.