What exactly happens to your eyes when you sit in a dark movie theater and then you go outside? Best answer on the web

Posted in: darrelrussell.com edit
07 Jan 2009
  • I have always wondered this question. I can't really explain or figure out what happens but my eyes like turn black or dark grey for a few seconds and then it ajusts to the new area. But what is causing your eyes to almost become blind for a few seconds? I need a scientific answer please!


  • Your pupils adjust their size according to the amount of light. They dilate (open) when there's less light.



    When you go outside your pupils are still big from the dark theater, but then you go outside. The pupils are too big for the light and they get flooded. It takes a few seconds for them to adjust, then for you to get over the pain of having your retinas burned to a crisp.


  • This is about the best I can do. When you sit someplace dark for a long time, your pupils dilate to let as much light as possible into your eye. When you go outside afterward, your eyes are still dilated and need a minute to close back. All of that light from the outside floods your eyes and makes them hurt and can cause the blindness you're talking about.


  • Your pupils dilate, this lets in more light.

    When you quickly enter a brightly lit area your pupils dont have time to contract and they are still dilated, and they let in more than your eye can handle, hence all you see is light, no definition.



    Once your pupils contract enough, you will see normally.


  • It is called accomodatioon.

    Your lens get shorter or longer depending on distance and intensity of light getting into your eyes.

    A fatter lens means that you are accomodating for near vision like reading

    Thinner lens let you see far objects

    Also the pupils dilate or contract depending on the amount of light hitting them: more light means constricted pupils and lees light means dilated pupils.

    So in a movie theater, your eyes are dilater and all of a sudden u go outside and ur eyes have do adjudt to the change by contricting the pupils and that period of adjustment is probably when u have to blink a few times!!!





    Can I get best answer??!!


  • Your iris ( the colored part of your eyes) CONTRACTS and makes the pupil smaller. This is because the increased light could damage your pupil. The pupil gets smaller. The reverse happens when you go into a dark room. You never lose any sight in the process.



    To test this out, go into a small room and keep flipping the light switch. Watch your pupils.