Seeing Stars in the Morning/Bright Days

[t2oo5]

Hello,
   I'm a 22yo male with a history of floaters, flashes, and slightly nearsightedness. Overall, in very good health. I've been evaluated by three eye MD's for the flashes, who have determined that it is probably due to retinal traction.
    Anyways, here is my question: Recently, I've noticed that in the morning, when I first wake up, and look at my white ceiling, I see stars in the center of my vision for a few seconds. My ceiling is bright, and it usually only happens right when I first open my eyes quickly after waking up. The stars look like what you would see if you were hit in the head/eye, and it's pretty much localized to the center of my vision.
   This same phenomenon also happens if I were to look outside on a very bright day. This doesn't only happen upon waking up, but any any time.
  Ive had recent eye exams by opthamologists for other reasons which were totally normal. Is this something of concern? Any idea what could be causing it? I feel like my eyes are super sensitive to light or something to that extent...
Thanks so much for all of your help!!

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

This is one of the many normal "entopic" phenomena that observant people can detect.  Basically when you wake up you are noticing your retinas "powering up".  If you had a dark blue ceiling you probably wouldn't see this.  When you are outside on a bright day you are probably seeing the effects of "high processing load" on the retinas and once again you need a high contrast situation to notice it. The next time you fly on an airplane look outside, because against that uniform light blue sky you  may really see those stars.

I would advise you not to play games with this because you can cause "breakthrough" whereby you end up seeing the stars at other times and cannot avoid them or make them go away.

[Dlr60]

Wow,
I was so curious to see the answer to t2005's question.  I have had something similar for years.   When I wake up in the morning and if I open my eyes quickly and look up at the ceiling,  I see clear swirly dots.   Soon as I close my eyes for a few seconds,  they are gone.  This only  happens if I open my eyes quickly,  kind of like if you've been startled awake.   That never really concerned me too much,  but what bothers me more is,  for about the past 15 years,  I've noticed when I  go outside on a bright sunny day, or even just look out my window,  I get the same idea as t2005,  but not stars.  I see in my outside vision of each eye a thread like squiggly line.  It is clear and stays there as long as I'm in brightness.  I have had so many exams and have been told it's nothing.   My eye doc told me that I am "too aware" of it.  Yet he never explained to me what it could be,  just dismissing it as being "nothing of concern". That is all well and good,  but a person would like an explanation of things,  especially concerning one's vision.  I do wear glasses,  progressive lenses,  and seem to feel it's not as noticeable if I have them on.  Unless that's just my imagination.   I should,  but do not wear them all the time.  

Dr.  Brown,  do you feel my dilemma is the same as t2005's?  And by saying to not play games with this,  do you mean try  to ignore it,  not focus or concentrate about it?  Because I do ignore it,  it can be annoying.  

Thanks for letting me tag onto  this post.   I've never heard of anyone before having something similar to my "thing"...It's kind of a relief.  

[t2oo5]

Dr. Brown,
   Thanks for the information. I actually believe that this "breakthrough" might be responsible for many of my perceived problems. I'm tired (but thankful) to have had enough normal eye exams. I'm going to do my best to ignore it, and hopefully it'll go away. Of course, any major changes in vision I'll follow up with my opthamologist.