What happens when you “see stars”?

Question

We all know from classic cartoons the situation when a character gets hit over the head and then sees stars circling around their head. The closest I’ve experienced to this is microscopically small dots erratically flying around in my field of view and extinguishing, more like fireflies, for about 30 seconds. This could happen when I rub my eyes, but happens very rarely. I’m guessing this is the symptom the cartoons are referring to? I’ve never gotten hit over the head. What exactly happens when people “see stars”? Is it a physical phenomenon in the eyes?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I think it’s oxygen depravation and shock. You basically get close to passing out or you pass out

Answer 2

Oxygen depravation. The longer you go w.o it the bigger the black centers of the ‘stars’ become