Image | After

: The primary cause is the depletion of photopigments in the retina's cone cells during prolonged exposure to a specific color.

: This theory explains why negative afterimages appear in complementary colors. It suggests that the visual system processes color in antagonistic pairs: red vs. cyan, green vs. magenta, and blue vs. yellow. After image

While afterimages are usually normal physiological occurrences, abnormally long-lasting or intense afterimages are known as . According to the Cleveland Clinic , persistent afterimages can sometimes be associated with medical conditions such as: : The primary cause is the depletion of

An is a visual sensation that lingers in your field of vision after you have finished looking at a stimulus, such as a bright light or a high-contrast pattern. This phenomenon occurs because the photoreceptors (rods and cones) in your eyes temporarily lose sensitivity after being overstimulated by a constant image. Types of Afterimages cyan, green vs

: Research from ScienceDirect indicates that while much of the process starts in the retina, the brain also plays a role in interpreting these lingering signals. Clinical Significance

: These are the most common type. They appear in colors complementary to the original stimulus. For example, staring at a green object will produce a magenta afterimage because the green-sensitive cones in your retina become fatigued, leaving only the red and blue signals (which combine to form magenta) to be processed when you look at a neutral surface.