# The bright-light splotch in my vision **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756 "2011-07-12T15:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/1 "2011-07-12T15:49:59Z")
Coming inside from the bright, sunny outdoors results in my vision having a big splotch of blindness in the middle. So I usually sit in my relatively dark cube with my eyes closed and my hand over my eyes until it goes away. I’ve noticed that the splotch gets larger in area first. I’m guessing this is because my eyes are dilating in the darkness. Then the splotch gradually fades and I can see normally again. My question is: what exactly is causing this? Are my cones and rods “burned out” temporarily? Is this the result of depletion of some cellular chemical and I have to wait for it to replenish? Or what? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/2 "2011-07-12T17:25:53Z")
Is it the same sort of after-image the average person gets after looking directly at a bare light bulb, or at the sun? (Do you know what I mean by that?) Years ago I had a tear and partial detachment of my left retina. It was repaired with laser surgery, but after a few months I began having these sort of after-images appear spontaneously, i.e., without ever looking at any kind of bright light, they’d just start; small, in the center of my vision, then grow to completely block the vision in the eye, then clear up. My ophthalmologist diagnosed this as an imminent retinal separation, and scheduled more surgery. Unfortunately, I had a complete separation before anything could be done. As a result, the retina couldn’t be put back perfectly, and my vision in the left eye is distorted to this day. I don’t mean to scare you with this story, but I **strongly** suggest you see an eye doctor ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/3 "2011-07-12T17:45:59Z")
This is just the after-image from being out in the bright sunlight. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/4 "2011-07-12T18:17:09Z")
Is it from looking at the sun? Or just something that occurs after you come inside after normal activity? Either way, I’d have it checked out. Doesn’t sound right, especially if it’s something that’s only recently begun. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/5 "2011-07-12T18:31:17Z")
Not Directly at the sun. But I live in the Sunshine State and it is VERY bright outside. Equivalent to looking at a bright light. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/6 "2011-07-12T18:38:04Z")
Eyes are fragile and precious. See a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/7 "2011-07-12T19:43:52Z")
Such conditions may be temporary and not indicate serious problems. However, what you describe can be indicative of eye impairment that can get irretrievably worse quickly. Be happy if an eye doc tells you it is the former and be just as happy if you discover a problem that can be attended to presently. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bright-light-splotch-in-my-vision/588756/8 "2011-07-12T21:51:14Z")
I would wear very dark glasses and a hat with a visor to protect my eyes from brightness of the sun. It should help to do that.