system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What actually happens when you “see stars”?

You see it in cartoons all the time and sometimes when I blow my nose too hard I see little points of light flying around my vision. What causes this and why do we see it?
gpt
The little lights, or "stars," you see are called phosphenes. They are stimulated by pressure on the eyes which is misinterpreted by cells in the retina as light. You'll get the same effect if you close your eyes and press on them.