A viral tweet has reignited discussions on how people with the eye condition astigmatism perceive the world, especially at nighttime.
The tweet, which garnered more than 36,000 shares and caught people's attention, showcases a split-screen image of a night street. The left side portrays blurred and flared lights, as opposed to the clear view on the right.
The account behind the tweet, Unusual Facts, explained: “Astigmatism is when the cornea is slightly curved rather than completely round. With astigmatism, light focuses on several points of the retina rather than just one point.”
As with anything that gains traction online, the tweet stirred debates and speculations.
Now, writing as somebody with astigmatism, I always knew why I saw bright lights the way I did - and even have contact lenses and glasses to attempt to negate the effects. But some people believed this was just how everybody saw light, with one person writing: "Holy s**t I thought everyone saw the lines, when I was little I would squint to make em longer to entertain myself, thought that was normal."
"Wait people can see lights normally? I thought everyone saw those lines," a second added.
Another Twitter user commented: "This explains why a friend of mine doesn't understand when I tell him 'lens flare' is real life. He doesn't see what I see every day. Mind blown."
One person even booked an eye appointment after seeing the viral image, later revealing: "Saw this post sometime last week and scheduled my first eye doctor appointment for today. I was told I have astigmatism. I probably wouldn’t have gotten looked at without seeing this, so thanks!"
Given the confusion, CTVNews.ca sought expert insights from the Canadian Association of Optometrists.
Dr. Kirsten North, a policy consultant for the CAO, clarified: "How you see things when you have astigmatism depends on your axis of astigmatism and the amount of your astigmatism." She went on to explain that while some may experience "double vision," others could see streaked or blurred images.
Astigmatism, often misunderstood, is a result of an irregularly curved cornea or abnormalities in the eye's lens, which hampers light from focusing accurately on the retina. According to Dr. North, the exact experience of someone with astigmatism can differ significantly.
The lens' shape, whether it is angled or flat, plays a significant role. "Whether you’re near or far-sighted will make a difference, there’s so many variables," she added.
Recent US research revealed that astigmatism affects 36% of individuals over the age of 20. The condition, which can be congenital or develop later in life, can be addressed through glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery.
Whether you're nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, one thing is clear – every eye is unique, and so is how we all see the world.
