Have you experienced "seeing stars"? What is the medical explanation for this?

Approximately once a year my entire field of vision contains thousands of little bright white lights. They are shaped like short and small grains of rice and they appear after my head suddenly changes position (but obviously not every time my head suddenly changes position), for example after I almost fall.

This lasts for maybe 20-30 seconds, and I can't make them go away by closing my eyes. There is no pain or uncomfortable feeling connected to this, actually it's kind of nice!



I think this is the origin of how cartoon characters are %26quot;seeing stars%26quot; after a bump to the head. But I don't think I have gotten it after actually hitting my head, and as I said they look more like rice than stars.



If you have experienced this please give me a detailed description of how it is like for you and when it happens. And if you know why this happens I am very interested in getting your answer.
Have you experienced %26quot;seeing stars%26quot;? What is the medical explanation for this?
Here's a web site at Web MD. It's called %26quot;entoptic phenomena%26quot;.



Vitreous is the name of the clear material that fills the eyeball. 80% of the eye's volume is vitreous -- just like a small spherical fish tank! You may recognize the word %26quot;vitreous%26quot; as molten glass. Human vitreous has a similar appearance and physical properties.



The vitreous in children is very firm and gelatinous. In older folks, the vitreous is like water. That means there's a transition period during which the gel %26quot;melts.%26quot; The medical term for this process is %26quot;syneresis.%26quot; (Hey, you knew we had a term for this!)



When the vitreous separates from the retina along the wall of our %26quot;fish tank%26quot; eye, it can stimulate light flashes in the retina.



Your coughing fits have provided us all with a textbook description of %26quot;entoptic phenomena%26quot; -- the visualization of images and colored flashes that are not really there, but you perceive them anyway.



All of us experience entoptic phenomena -- it's just that some of us are not as alert an observer as you.



In order to communicate with the brain, the retina transmits a nerve signal that describes light. That is to say, the retina's language is light. Any stimulation of the retina (inflammation, pressure, traction, etc.) will activate the retina, and so the stimulated retina transmits a visual signal to the brain -- even if your eyes are closed and even if the room is totally black!



Many WebMD visitors recall playing in bed at night as a child and gently pressing on their eyeball. C'mon, 'fess up, you all did it at one time or another! You may have noticed a yellow or greenish crescent or halo in that eye. That was your introduction to entoptic phenomena.



In your eyes, the entoptic stimulation may have been caused by your wobbling vitreous. In the absence of all other stimuli (darkened, quiet bedroom) your eye finally had a chance to appreciate what was going on INSIDE your eye.



It's possible to have flashes only without any vitreous floaters.



Since coughing can certainly wobble the fish tank, it is not surprising you associated the flashes with your cough.



Persistent or progressive flashes should alert you to get a comprehensive eye exam.





http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/seein鈥?/a> ~
Have you experienced %26quot;seeing stars%26quot;? What is the medical explanation for this?
Sorry about that, but this is the explanation I got when I searched for %26quot;seeing stars+eyes%26quot;. I would imagine that the %26quot;flashes%26quot; he is explaining are actually the %26quot;stars%26quot; that we see. Maybe?

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well i used to get them almost twice a week during gym. after we stood up from sitting down...my head goes numb a bit and there are these little %26quot;particles%26quot; in my vision, and i get a bit dissy and it takes like 10 seconds to go away. i think it was because of the sun because during cloudy days nothing would happen.
a lot of times after ive been sitting down and suddenly stand up, i get what i call %26quot;a blackout%26quot; but everything turns black and there are little specks of light. i feel dizzy but 20 seconds later and im fine.
i thought i'm the only one seeing that. i just make wishes even though i know that i'm fulling myself. haha. i have no idea what triggers it but before that i feel warm all over my body. and everywhere i look i saw those golden grains. floating in all directions. i consider it a blessings , after all i saw it and they don't!