Eli5 why does pressing my palms against my eyes create a kaleidoscope effect?
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Pressing your palms against your closed eyes stimulates the photoreceptor cells in the retina, which can create a visual phenomenon known as a phosphene. This is the perception of light in the absence of light entering the eye. The patterns you see when you press your palms against your eyes are likely due to the way the photoreceptor cells are stimulated by the pressure, which causes them to fire randomly, creating a jumbled pattern of light and dark spots that resemble a kaleidoscope or other patterned shapes. It’s important to note that while this is a harmless phenomenon, applying too much pressure to your eyes can cause eye strain or even damage to the eye.
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