If you think about it, this makes sense.īy sensing the pull of gravity or your head's motion, your ears tell you where you are. We rely to a significant degree on our eyes for more fine-tuning of our balance. You wouldn't want to get dizzy every time you turn your head!
These motion-detectors are not sensitive enough, though, to register movement unless it is of a fairly significant sort. Some sense forward and backward motion, some rotation.
#Dizziness when i close my eyes series
In each ear is a series of organs that respond to various kinds of motion. Well, you may have heard that our sense of balance is centered in our ears. You can achieve this same effect by standing on one foot in a completely darkened room. With eyes closed you may begin to wobble and tilt, but as soon as you open them, things get easier again. Not so hard, you say? Try it with your eyes closed.Īha! Suddenly things got much harder. The temporal lobes also control short-term memory.Try standing on one foot. Researchers hypothesized that the hallucinations may be related to temporal lobe epilepsy, which causes seizures in the emotion-regulating parts of the brain. While hallucinations aren’t listed as a common side effect of lidocaine, other related side effects of topical applications of this medication include:Īnother study on heart surgery patients noted closed-eye hallucinations as rare side effects after this procedure. The ingredient is also sold in some over-the-counter topical numbing agents used for muscle aches and joint pain. This is a numbing agent that may be used in minor surgeries and dental procedures. Researchers concluded that this case was caused by a reaction to lidocaine. These closed-eye hallucinations were followed by racing thoughts for two hours. After surgery, the patient reportedly experienced hallucinations whenever he closed his eyes over a four-hour period. One such study found closed-eye hallucinations in a man who had minor outpatient surgery with local anesthesia. Other closed-eye hallucinations have also been reported in some people after they have surgery. While hallucinations experienced with Charles Bonnet syndrome typically occur with the eyes open, gradual vision loss can make it feel as if the eyes are closed. Each hallucination may last for just a few seconds at a time, or for several hours. Adults with this condition may frequently have images of people, landscapes, and objects. The hallucinations experienced with Charles Bonnet syndrome may be recurring, and can last for an average of 12 to 18 months. This condition leads to vision loss from macular degeneration in older adults, creating what’s sometimes called “phantom vision.” Visual hallucinations may also occur in Charles Bonnet syndrome. It’s estimated that hallucinations occur in about 0.5 percent of people with sodium levels of less than 120 mEq/L, but the exact number of closed-eye hallucinations is not known. This condition causes extremely low blood sodium levels of 135 mEq/L or less. Other causes of closed-eye hallucinations may be related to medical conditions, including the following: HyponatremiaĬlosed-eye hallucinations have also been clinically observed as a secondary condition in people with hyponatremia. There may also be an increased likelihood of seeing more colors when light pressure, such as a blindfold or sleep mask, is placed against your closed eyelids. If you close your eyes in a lit-up room or outside in the sunlight, chances are that small amounts of light could create a visual effect. At rest, your retina still continues to produce these electrical charges. These occur as a result of the constant activity between neurons in the brain and your vision.Įven when your eyes are closed, you can experience phosphenes. What typically causes closed eye hallucinations?Ĭlosed-eye hallucinations are related to a scientific process called phosphenes.