• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
If you see these beams on lights you have a specific condition not everyone has

Home> Community

Published 17:54 16 Jun 2024 GMT+1

If you see these beams on lights you have a specific condition not everyone has

It affects approximately one third of the US population

Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Are you seeing beams of light coming out of every lightbulb in your vision?

You may have thought this was a shared experience all people had.

But that isn't so - you could be part of the population with a very specific condition.

It affects approximately one third of the US population and carries symptoms such as the need to squint to see clearly, headaches and blurry vision.

Advert

Having blurry vision is what causes people to see beams coming from a light source.

An image demonstrating this phenomena was shared to the subreddit r/InterestingAsF**k.

This is what having astigmatism looks like. (Reddit/u/Dautista)
This is what having astigmatism looks like. (Reddit/u/Dautista)

In the photo, streaks of light can be seen coming out of lightbulbs in a busy restaurant.

It represents what people with astigmatism likely see on a regular basis.

The condition occurs when the cornea (the clear front layer of the eye) or the lens (inside your eye) has a different shape.

Most people have perfectly round eyeballs, however, those with astigmatism have egg or oval-shaped eyes.

Their eyes are shaped more like an American football, while others have eyes shaped like a European football.

Mild cases of the condition usually won't present with any symptoms, but but the abnormal shape of the lens or cornea can make light bend as it enters your eye.

One person with the condition wrote on Reddit: "I always thought this was normal.

"Like when it rains at night I [would] look at the street lights and they would look like big red and green stars stretching further because of the [rain] drops on the windshield.

"Then I found out I have astigmatism, crazy to think not everyone sees the glare."

Astigmatism (shown at the bottom) leaves people with different shaped eyes. (Wikimedia Commons)
Astigmatism (shown at the bottom) leaves people with different shaped eyes. (Wikimedia Commons)

While astigmatism can be annoying, it's nothing to worry over.

It's very common, with some people being born with it and others developing it after a injury, illness or surgery.

Doctors aren't sure why the shape of the lens or cornea can vary between people, but the risk of getting it is inherited from parents.

You can find out for certain if you have astigmatism by going to the opticians for an eye exam, where testing might include reading from an eye chart or looking through a device known as a 'phoropter', where you have to relay which letters you can see better.

Tests can also include an autorefractor, where a light is shined into the eye, and a keratometer to measure the curve of your cornea.

If you do have the condition, your doctor can treat it with glasses or contact lenses, or even with surgery which changes the shape of your cornea.

However, if your astigmatism is mild, you probably even won't need treatment.

Featured Image Credit: u/Dautista/Reddit/Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

Topics: Health, Reddit

Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 mins ago
a day ago
3 days ago
5 days ago
  • ITV
    3 mins ago

    Woman reveals how she's dating AI octopus inspired by monster romance novels

    The woman explained that she doesn't imagine her AI boyfriend is in human form

    Community
  • Getty Stock
    a day ago

    Cruise ship worker reveals 'real life behind the scenes' and the best part about the job

    They also revealed the unexpected downsides of their occupation

    Community
  • Getty Stock
    3 days ago

    'Sweeping' dating trend explained as people 'clean out' their love life

    The new dating trend is apparently popular heading into spring

    Community
  • Getty Stock
    5 days ago

    Parents are being warned about the dangers of using 'baby on board' stickers

    The sticker might mean well but could open you up to potential dangers

    Community
  • Scientists discovered a way to potentially slow or even halt the ageing process
  • If you see distorted or 'demonic' faces you could have extremely rare condition
  • Woman urges people never to walk under these red flags if you see them
  • These are the most landed-on Monopoly properties you must own if you want to win every time