# What do I see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178 "2002-08-09T18:38:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/1 "2002-08-09T18:38:23Z")
Regarding the Cecils [Reverse Image](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_085.html) column, I was wondering if I could toss out a follow-up: I find at times that, when I close my eyes for a while, I see what appears to be a large two-dimensional donut (ie, big disk-type object with hole in the middle). Invariably, the donut (for lack of a better term) appears to be a gold color, and is segmented something like the cross-section of an orange. It always happens in brightly lit conditions, like when I’m lying down to sleep during the day, but I do not necessarily have to be facing the light source. Many times an after-image persists for several minutes after I open my eyes. Can anyone explain this? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/2 "2002-08-09T19:02:21Z")
Does it have sprinkles on it? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/3 "2002-08-09T22:16:12Z")
I think Hiryuu needs to answer this one as it is undoubtedly phi-related (the fundamental units of spacetime are donut-shaped, according to some insane theory or other). ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/4 "2002-08-10T03:54:56Z")
Is it a pineapple slice? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/5 "2002-08-10T04:21:31Z")
It sounds like you’re seeing a typical [phosphene](http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=phosphene) Here’s some [pictures.](http://www.md.ucl.ac.be/gren/Mivip/Images/fosfenes.html) There doesn’t seem to be a decent review of phosphenes available online. Google [turns up a pile](http://www.google.com/search?as_q=phosphenes&num=10&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=off) that range from the utilitarian: [Benjamin Franklin as inspiring source for ingenious system to guide blind people through the subway](http://www.hoise.com/vmw/00/articles/vmw/LV-VM-02-00-16.html) [Pinning Down Phosphenes](http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio-195-196/dstein/pages/dobelle/phosph/) To the aesthetically pleasing: [Phosphenes and Entoptics](http://www.mineralarts.com/artwork/phosphenes.html) To the brain befuddling: [THE BOOK OF PHOSPHENES](http://www.phosphenes.org/shop.html) ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/6 "2002-08-10T11:57:31Z")
I’d like a cherry phosphene, please, two straws. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/7 "2002-08-12T13:01:13Z")
Thanks, **Squink** Although, I was excited by the possibility that I had a direct line of sight on the fundamental units of space time. Damned mundane facts. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-see/123178/8 "2002-08-12T13:08:28Z")
I did wonder if perhaps you were a police officer by profession…