Seeing purple spots can be a disorienting experience, often prompting questions about what might be occurring within the visual system. This visual perception varies, sometimes appearing briefly and other times persisting. Understanding these visual anomalies helps clarify if the observation is common and harmless or warrants further investigation.
Understanding Visual Phenomena
When someone reports seeing purple spots, they might be describing several distinct visual phenomena. One common experience involves afterimages, where a bright light source temporarily imprints a complementary color onto the retina, which can be perceived as purple or other hues. These afterimages appear briefly and fade quickly once the original stimulus is removed.
Another visual experience described as “purple spots” involves floaters, which are small specks or threads that drift across the field of vision. While often dark, some individuals might interpret these as colored, especially in certain lighting conditions. Floaters are usually caused by tiny clumps of collagen or debris within the vitreous humor, the eye’s gel-like substance.
Visual field disturbances, such as scotomas, can also be perceived as shimmering or colored areas, including purple. These might expand or migrate across the vision.
Common Temporary Causes
Many instances of seeing purple spots are temporary and not indicative of a serious underlying condition. A frequent cause is the strong afterimage created by exposure to bright lights, such as a camera flash, looking directly at the sun, or even prolonged exposure to bright screens. Retinal photoreceptor cells can become temporarily overstimulated, leading to a lingering perception of color. This effect usually subsides within minutes.
Visual fatigue, often from extended reading or computer use, can also contribute to transient visual anomalies. Eye muscles and neural pathways can become strained, leading to visual disturbances. Applying temporary pressure to the eye, such as rubbing it, can induce brief flashes of light or colored spots. These occurrences are benign and resolve on their own.
When Purple Spots Signal a Deeper Issue
While many instances of purple spots are harmless, their appearance can sometimes signal a more significant underlying health concern. Ocular migraines, a type of migraine with aura, often involve visual disturbances that can include shimmering, zig-zag lines, or blind spots perceived with a purplish tint. These visual symptoms can occur with or without a headache, usually resolving within 30 minutes.
Retinal issues represent another category of more serious causes. A retinal detachment, where the retina pulls away from its supporting tissue, can cause flashes of light and new floaters, which some describe as colored spots. Similarly, a retinal tear or bleeding within the eye, due to conditions like diabetic retinopathy or a vitreous hemorrhage, can introduce new visual phenomena, including spots or shadows perceived as purple.
Neurological events, such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke, can affect the brain’s visual cortex. This can lead to sudden, temporary visual changes like colored spots or partial vision loss.
Seeking Professional Guidance and Next Steps
If purple spots are new, persist for more than a few minutes, or are accompanied by other concerning symptoms, seeking professional medical guidance is advisable. Immediate consultation with an eye care professional or physician is important if spots appear suddenly, or are accompanied by pain, significant vision loss, or a severe headache. Other warning signs include weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or a sudden change in mental status.
During a medical evaluation, an eye care professional will perform a comprehensive eye examination, which may include dilating the pupils to thoroughly inspect the retina and optic nerve. Depending on the suspected cause, further diagnostic tests may be recommended, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) to image retinal layers or a neurological assessment. Professional medical advice ensures an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management plan.