Seeing stars after last rep in heavy set

[Soda]

I had this happen to me for the first time today on a BP set when I struggled to get the bar up one more time. Anyone else experience this? Until now I didn't even realize this old trope from cartoons was based on something real. Anyway, what I'm wondering is - does this mean I need to work on breathing deeper? That is, apparently I wasn't getting enough oxygen?

[Adam Skillin]

Happens to me on deadlifts all the time. It means that shit was heavy. Get in a position where you won't hit anything pointy or hard with a lot of velocity if you pass out.

[carson]

I haven't seen it yet with DL but when trying to learn Power Snatch I saw stars and blacked out for a second. I'm 66. I don't do Power Snatch. I wouldn't be surprised that some day I will see stars with the DL. More oxygen the better, I say.

[Charlie Davies]

My vision goes funny for a moment during hard sets sometimes, especially squats and power cleans. But it hasn't happened to me on bench.

S.I.F, what's your breathing pattern on bench? I hope you have safeties!

[Nick Klemetson]

Never happened to me on the bench either. It's happened severely once on a heavy DL set. Things got a little fuzzy on the last rep, but it was a PR, so I held it with pride. Set it down, and then went and sat in the corner for awhile.

[tomskarda]

Happened a couple of times while pressing heavy. Now I use either bumper plates or a cage with the pins set at shoulder height.

[G1981C]

yeah i don't think it is that unusual, at least not for me. just make sure somebody is spotting you.

[Músculo-Tonto]

I don't think it's anything serious.
It only happens to me on BP and LTEs (on lay-on-back exercises).

I feel slightly light-headed, and see blue and green rectangles in my vision (especially peripheral) for about 20 seconds after I'm done.

I think it is a combination of the rows of rectangle florescent lights on the ceiling of my gym, plus doing the valsalva a little too intensely. Try exhaling a little slowly after your arms pass the half-way point of the concentric portion of your BP.

M-T