Why do I see squiggly lines when looking through a blanket at light?

[tony134340]

I've always wondered since I was a kid, I would lay down and have a blanket over my eyes sometimes while looking through it during daylight or at a light. If I focused just right, I would slowly see squiggly lines and things just slowly floating by like a transparent layer over what I normally see. I always figured this was normal and used to equate it to looking through a microscope. In fact, I used to believe it was me seeing microscopically when I was younger. I don't believe it anymore nor do I think I'm hallucinating. Is there any optical specialists here?

 

[Evo]

I've always wondered since I was a kid, I would lay down and have a blanket over my eyes sometimes while looking through it during daylight or at a light. If I focused just right, I would slowly see squiggly lines and things just slowly floating by like a transparent layer over what I normally see. I always figured this was normal and used to equate it to looking through a microscope. In fact, I used to believe it was me seeing microscopically when I was younger. I don't believe it anymore nor do I think I'm hallucinating. Is there any optical specialists here?

That's normal, everyone sees those at some time. Here is an explanation with a picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater

 

[tony134340]

Just what I was looking for. Thanks.