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Is it normal to see after images of text if you've been reading on the computer?

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Posted 10/2/2015 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Random question, I know. I'm suffering from HA about my vision & it's been going on for months. It's always some new visual symptom scaring me to death. cry

I just want to know if any of you guys see after images fairly easily? Mine don't last long but they happen a lot lately. If I'm reading on the computer & then I look at the wall, I see a pattern of the text, lasts about 20-30 seconds. Same thing if I look at blinds. I'll see a pattern for about 30-45 seconds (if the sun is bright especially). If I'm watching TV & look at the wall, I see the TV for about one second. If I look at the Google logo on my screen & then move my eyes, I see the Google logo for about one second as well. You get the idea. It just seems to happen all the time lately.

Is this normal? Can this be made worse by anxiety? This is my fear the last few days & I'm super worried about it. Sorry. And thank you.

Posted 10/2/2015 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Pink!

Yes, that is something I experience often and actually it's quite normal. Rest assured, this doesn't mean anything bad happening to your vision. All people experience it without noticing because it's how human eye works :)

For example, we had some experiments on white paper when I was in the university (Fine Arts Academy) and we were first putting a colored paper on white background then suddenly removing the colored paper to see the complementary color of the previous one. We could actually see the shape (and opposite color) of the previous shape on the white background for a while.

So whatever shape you use to look, then once you turn your eyes away on another place you will still see them for a while. Because it's a vision recognized by your brain+eyes :)

Sorry for the long and complicated text
Posted 10/2/2015 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pink, I was going to say the same thing as Rrakkma. In school we did a test where we stared at a picture of the American flag (I'm American) but with the opposite colors (i.e. green and black stripes). After a few minutes of staring, we were told to look at a blank wall and we could see the flag with its correct colors!

So yes, it is completely normal.
Posted 10/3/2015 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, guys. I know after images can be totally normal but I just wasn't sure if it was normal to see them often like I am. I can't tell if it's my eyes or my anxiety or what's going on. You know, the usual! :)

If anyone else has the experience of seeing them after reading on the computer for awhile or seeing lines after looking at blinds, I'd love to hear about it. Or just what your experiences are in general with after images.

I'll keep telling myself it's normal. Thanks again!
Posted 10/3/2015 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I get it from looking through blinds, especially if it's sunny out. Then I see black lines everywhere.
Posted 10/3/2015 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Because we are anxious, we give more attention to everyday but kind of weird happenings that we wouldn't have otherwise given a second thought.
Posted 5/24/2017 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hei Pinkharts9,

Hope you found a way to deal with after images after almost two years! Recently I noticed that I have them as well, specially when I look at bright onjects (phone screen, computer screen, lamp, and so on) and then look at some where else I see the scene for a few seconds (1-10 second). It should be normal but once your brain learned to notice them, then it would difficult to not see them! I also have some trails in my vision for almost a year now, without finding any reason for that! in dim lighted rooms anything which is moving I can see a tiney light pattern is following the motion wherever it goes (this one is quite annoying).
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