Seeing red/green/violet lines around an object

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the observation of colored fringes (yellow/red lines and red/green/violet hues) around objects when viewed at certain angles, particularly in relation to the effects of eyeglasses. Participants explore potential explanations for this phenomenon, including chromatic aberration and reflections from the lenses.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • A participant describes seeing colored edges around a book and other objects, suggesting that light may be bouncing off their glasses and affecting their perception.
  • Another participant proposes that the observed effect could be due to chromatic aberration in the lenses of the glasses, referencing external information about the phenomenon.
  • A later reply mentions that similar effects occur in refractor telescopes and binoculars, noting that reflecting telescopes do not experience this issue.
  • One participant adds that eyeglasses can also create reflective artifacts, such as reflections of the wearer's eye, under certain lighting conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that chromatic aberration is a likely explanation for the observed effects, but there are multiple perspectives on the nature and causes of the visual artifacts experienced with eyeglasses.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the specific types of lenses and lighting conditions are not fully explored, and the discussion does not resolve the nuances of how different types of optical instruments may influence the observed phenomena.

JT73
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Hello,

I study physics on my own, but jump from one area to another and am also a beginner, so if this question is easy and obvious then my apologies. However if it is complicated, please answer it with whatever terms neccessary.

I have noticed that while in class (not physics) if I am looking down at my book on my desk that the edges of the paper will not appear white (which is the color of the paper) at certain angles. I end up seeing yellow/red lines/glow of the paper. It actually looks that color. I wear glasses and if I look at it from a certain way then I am thinking that the light from the ceiling is bouncing from my lens to my eye causing me to see the paper differently. Would this make sense or am I going about this wrong?

Also, the same thing happens wth another object in my room. If I am at a certain angle towards my lamp then an object I look at has a very defined red/green/violet hugh around it.

What is going on?

Thanks a lot
 
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JT73 said:
Hello,

I study physics on my own, but jump from one area to another and am also a beginner, so if this question is easy and obvious then my apologies. However if it is complicated, please answer it with whatever terms neccessary.

I have noticed that while in class (not physics) if I am looking down at my book on my desk that the edges of the paper will not appear white (which is the color of the paper) at certain angles. I end up seeing yellow/red lines/glow of the paper. It actually looks that color. I wear glasses and if I look at it from a certain way then I am thinking that the light from the ceiling is bouncing from my lens to my eye causing me to see the paper differently. Would this make sense or am I going about this wrong?

Also, the same thing happens wth another object in my room. If I am at a certain angle towards my lamp then an object I look at has a very defined red/green/violet hugh around it.

What is going on?

Thanks a lot
Hi and welcome to this forum!
Maybe it's a chromatic aberration of your lenses making up your glasses. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_aberration.

P.S.:It happens with my glasses too but I can only see blue and red for contour of objects. This didn't happen with my previous glasses. If I remove my glasses the aberration disappear so my eyes have a smaller chromatic aberration than my glasses.
 
This same effect happens in refractor telescopes and binoculars. That is one of the main reasons that many people use reflecting telescopes, as they do not suffer from this effect.
 
Chromatic aberration is probably it, thanks.
 
Because eyeglasses are reflective surface as well, and not just refractive surfaces, there are other annoying visual artifacts as well. For instance, under proper lighting and at the right angle, you can see an image of your own eye in your glasses.
 

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