Seeing Afterimages

Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
When I move my hand in front of my face I see my hand leaving a trace between the first and the last positions of my hand movement. Can you please advise me what is going on and what I should do?   

Answer:
You may be experiencing afterimages in the occipital lobe in the back part of your brain where visual images are formed. Your experience does not sound like a normal function of the visual system. Your Eye M.D. can evaluate this visual malfunction and determine whether it is optical or neurological in origin.

Answered by: Lee Duffner, MD

Categories: Eye Diseases, General Eye Health

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