Definition

A feeling of light that you see when pressure is applied to your eyes or when the retina is stimulated without actual light.

Example

When I pressed my eyes, I saw colorful shapes and patterns, which are called phosphenes.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a phosphene when you press your eyes?

Yeah, it's really strange how you can see those colors without any light.

I tried it yesterday, and it was like fireworks behind my eyelids.

Exactly! It’s such a cool way to experience something unusual.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phosphene → It is formed from "phos" (φῶς) (meaning light) and "phainesthai" (φαίνεσθαι) (meaning to show or to appear). The word "phosphene" refers to the phenomenon of seeing light without light actually entering the eye, as if light is being shown or appearing in the visual field.

Memory Tip

Imagine seeing light that isn't really there — 'phos' means light, and 'phainesthai' means to show. This helps you remember that a phosphene is a light sensation that appears without external light.

Visually Confused Words