Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the internet provides weird and interesting facts that you never knew. How much do you know about the eye? We know some people have perfect 20/20 vision while others are blind as a bat, but what about all the impaired vision conditions that come between?
One of these conditions is astigmatism, which became quite a popular topic after the pictures of astigmatism vs normal vision went viral. As people with certain medical conditions see differently, you may ask: “What is astigmatism?†Basically, astigmatism can cause a common vision problem characterized by blurry or distorted vision.
This visual impairment may affect eyesight in different ways, depending on its degree and type. Some people may have mild astigmatism and a pretty clear vision, not noticing any symptoms. Others may have moderate to severe astigmatism and experience distorted vision. So, what does vision look like with astigmatism?
Astigmatism Lights Vs Normal Vision: An Eye-Opening Tweet
Image credits: UnusualFacts6
A photo from the Twitter account @UnusualFacts6—which deals with the weirdest and most horrific facts on the internet—went viral for showing astigmatism vs normal vision. Before seeing these pictures, many people had no idea they might have astigmatism distortion, as they always thought their vision was normal when it actually wasn’t. Of course, if you want to be sure about your eye condition, we highly recommend you go to the eye doctor to diagnose astigmatism.
What Is The Main Cause Of Astigmatism?
Image credits: UnusualFacts6
An irregular shape of the cornea or the lens causes astigmatism, making people see the lights at night illuminating and with additional glare and streaks. Astigmatism is a refractive condition that occurs when the surface of the cornea or the lens inside the eye has mismatched curves.
A normal eye has both the cornea and lens curved in a rounded shape, whereas people with astigmatism have one of these elements in an egg shape. In a perfect eye, the rounded shape of the cornea and lens refract any incoming light to produce a sharply focused image on the retina.
The Types Of Astigmatism
Image credits: UnusualFacts6
The mismatched curves prevent the light rays from bending correctly in an eye with a refractive error. The result is blurred vision. There are two different types of astigmatism:Â
- Corneal astigmatism, where the mismatched curves occur in the cornea.
- Lenticular astigmatism, where the curves in the lens are mismatched.Â
Both cause blurry vision but can occur more horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This condition is commonly present combined with another refractive error like nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia).
Normal Vs Astigmatism Life
Image credits: wikipedia
Blurry vision isn't the lone astigmatism symptom. People with this condition can also experience headaches, eye strain, or difficulty seeing and driving at night. Some people are born with astigmatism. They actually may not know they have it until they are screened for it during an eye test. People who discover they have astigmatism can still live relatively hassle-free lives.Â
How Astigmatism Causes Visual Loss Worldwide?
Refractive errors like astigmatism are the most common ocular problems among all age groups. According to studies and reports from the World Health Organization, they are the first cause of bad eyesight and the second cause of visual loss worldwide.
43% of global visual impairments are due to refractive errors. Uncorrected refractive errors were the cause of blindness in 6.8 million people in 2010 worldwide.
Tweets According To Astigmatism LightsÂ
As you can see from our curated comments on Twitter, many people were surprised by the normal vision vs astigmatism lights.
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Image credits: UnusualFacts6
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The Poor Sight Didn’t Stand In The Way Of Many Great Artists
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El Greco was a famous painter of the Spanish Renaissance, known for his distinctive style of elongating certain figures in his paintings. Some people have speculated that this elongation was due to a vision disorder called astigmatism, which causes blurry or distorted vision.Â
One of the first proponents of this theory was Germán Beritens, an ophthalmologist who published two pamphlets in 1913 and 1914, arguing that El Greco had astigmatism and that his paintings reflected his visual perception.
Another example illustrating this point is Claude Monet, the renowned painter, who suffered from cataracts, a condition that clouds the eyes and impairs vision, color discrimination, and detail perception. This condition was clearly reflected in his artwork.
All Answers About Astigmatism Vs Normal Vision
As we come to the end of our exploration into the pictures of astigmatism versus normal vision, let’s uncover the insights that have emerged from this viral phenomenon. Whether you are a curious mind or someone looking for clarity, here’s a roundup of all the answers you eagerly await.
Is Astigmatism Poor Eyesight?
Astigmatism isn't synonymous with poor eyesight. Astigmatism is a common refractive error that occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape. Although it’s a visual impairment, having mild astigmatism doesn't necessarily mean poor vision overall. In fact, some people with this condition can still enjoy quite clear vision.
What Is The Difference Between Astigmatism And Normal People?
The difference between astigmatism and normal vision is that astigmatism is a type of refractive error, which means that the eye doesn't bend light properly to create a clear image on the retina. Normal vision is when the eye has no refractive errors and can see clearly at all distances.
Do Glasses Fix Astigmatism?
You should treat astigmatism if you have your eyesight on the exam and find out you have this refractive error. Severe astigmatism cases may be corrected with glasses. If the method, like glasses, doesn't fit your lifestyle, you can also try corrective contact lenses. Of course, they can cause dry eyes if used continuously.
If this is your case, you can also consider the idea of laser eye surgery such as Lasik. Depending on the severity and the cause of the condition, an eye doctor must prescribe the proper treatment for you. Untreated astigmatism can lead to complications like lazy eye (amblyopia), vision loss, or vision reverting to a pre-surgery state.