I have had 3 weird and different visual disturbance. 2 were today, although 1 might have been an hallucination.

I will talk about the one this morning. It was NOT an hallucination.

I woke up and my husband was not in bed. So I went into the living room to see him. He was sitting on the couch watching tv. The couch is in front of a large window and a lamp is beside the couch.

We talked a minute and he said he would be back to bed shortly.

I walked into the bathroom, saw all that was in the bathroom, the shower curtain and such that one would see while taking care of business.

I then walked back down the hallway to my bedroom. Climbed into bed, saw my phone flashing.

I read the text and replied. Put the phone down. Fixed the covers, then my husband came into the room. I saw him enter and walk to his side of the bed.

He asked if I needed the alarm set for my doctor appointment. I said no I have it set on my cell phone.

I turned away from him and checked my cell to make sure I had it set right.

I then snuggled into bed and closed my eyes,

Ok, you know that optical illusion where you stare at something and then close your eyes and you see the negative image?

Well, that happened. But not of the thousands of image I had happen in the last 5 minutes, but of the couch in front of the window and the lamp, from the beginning of my story.

But it was a positive image, not a negative. So, I opened my eyes and stared at something a few seconds. Closed my eyes and it was still there.

I repeated this numerous times. Each time the same thing.

Finally after a while it became a negative image. Then as I repeated the action is went back and forth from positive to negative.

It finally started to fade. At that point I noted the time, checked my phone to see when I sent the text so I owuld know how long this thing lasted.

It continued fading for another 45 seconds.

Overall this image stayed with me for 12-13 minutes.

I have never heard of such a thing. And the thing is, I could not rest with that image there. So I hope it does not occur often.

So I researched this and I found this condition.


Palinopsia (Greek: palin for "again" and opsia for "seeing") is a visual disturbance that causes images to persist to some extent even after their corresponding stimulus has left. These images are known as afterimages and occur in persons with normal vision. However, a person with palinopsia experiences them to a significantly greater degree, to the point where they become difficult or impossible to ignore. This often results in mild to severe anxiety and/or depression. Palinopsia sometimes appears on its own, but is more often accompanied by other visual disturbances such as visual snow, and can be attributed to a number of conditions affecting the brain including, but not limited to, medications[1], seizure disorders, tumors, occiptal lobe or visual pathway lesions[2], subcortical hemorrhage[3], and dural arteriovenous malformations[4].


What caught my eye was this... "occiptal lobe or visual pathway lesions"

Could that be an MS lesions?

Anyone else heard or deal with this?

The other one that happened kept me awake for over an hour. Every time I closed my eye I saw a bright light. I would open my eyes and sometimes still see it faintly but it was more pronounced when my eyes were closed.

I have had 1 optical headache before, but it was nothing like that. not the zigzag pattern. Just this weird small round light.

So unsure what is going on.

To me, from what I can read, it sounds more brain that eye related.

Any input, ideas would be greatly appreciated. I see my neuro in a week and will definitely let her know.