Eye "noise" when looking at flat, plain surfaces

[House_Plant]

Hi,

For as long as I can remember, I experience a kind of "noise" when looking at large expanses of a color, such as the sky. The effect is similar to multi-colored dots, but the dots are very very small, too small to see individually, only noticeable as an expanse (which doesn't sound like the descriptions I've read of the blue field entoptic phenomenon). It's also similar to a type of glare, such as might be experienced after looking at a bright light, but it's all the time. The effect is most noticeable in low-light, low-contrast conditions, such as when inside looking at plain walls under flourescent light, or when my eyes are closed, or when it's totally dark. It's kind of like a color static, although again dots are too small to see individually.

It's not a huge problem, I'd just like to know that I'm normal and not in any danger. I've had my eyes checked recently, including having an image of the retina taken, and everything apparently seemed normal.

Can anyone explain what I'm seeing?

Thanks

[LauraSecord]

I think we are experiencing the same thing.  I have been aware of this "shimmer" from earliest youth and assumed everyone saw it.  When we were told about atoms and molecules in elementary school I briefly thought "Aha - I know what that looks like", but of course the teacher was also explaining that no one could see atoms, so I said nothing and spared myself embarrasment in front of my peers!  I was more aware of it as a youngster, and if bored in school or before I fell asleep at night I would entertain myself by discerning  patterns in it - waves, swirls etc. I have never interpreted it as a malaise nor as something supernatural, just as something that is.  No one else I know sees it, and rare attempts to describe it to the eye doctor have not produced any useful information.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Houseplant

It is normal to have some of these sensations after looking at light.  It may take 20 or so minutes for your eyes to adapt from light to dark conditions, a process known as dark adaptation.  I cannot fully explain the first sensation but I always tell patients to be aware of their symptoms and see their eyeMd if they develop new symptoms or a change in their symptoms.

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[House_Plant]

After re-reading that, perhaps the best way to describe it would be this:

As far as I know, many people see colors and shapes when they close their eyes.

I see those things when I close my eyes, but also when my eyes are open in low-light conditions, superimposed over everything else.

When I look from a brightly-lit area to a dark area, the effect is increased. The glare lessens as I keep looking at the dark area, but doesn't go away entirely.

Thanks again