Why is it that after you look at a bright light, you see a spot for a while after looking away from the light?
In: Biology
The spots you see are becaused of something called “photo-bleaching” that happens to the retina (the light sensitive piece at the back of your eye). It has special *photoreceptor cells* that contain materials called *pigments* that absorb different colors of light.
When you look at a really bright light—like staring at the sun or the middle of a light bulb—the pigments are overloaded by more light than they can handle. They get used up all at once and it takes your cells a little while to make more. During that time, you see those black and white spots because the cells have no pigment to help you see colors.
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