ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Palinopsia

Palinopsia is when you see things after they're gone, like when you look at a bright light and you see spots, and then even after you look away, you still see spots. It's like when you see a picture of a light bulb and when you look away, you still see the light bulb, but it's not really there anymore.

This can happen for a few different reasons, like if you've had a brain injury, if you have migraines, if you've taken certain drugs, or if you have a condition called "visual snow." Sometimes it goes away on its own, but other times you might need treatment like medication or surgery to help make it better.

Basically, palinopsia is like a little ghost that sticks around in your eyes after something has disappeared, and sometimes you need special help to make it go away.