Gazing at your Christmas tree could help diagnose a common vision problem.
If the lights look more like streaks or beams than distinct spots, this could indicate astigmatism, which is extremely common – about 33 percent of Americans have it.
Symptoms of the condition include blurred vision, headaches, and eye strain, particularly after prolonged periods of concentration like computer use.
Astigmatism occurs when the clear lens around the eyeball takes on an irregular oval shape instead of the typical perfect roundness.
The football-like shape causes light to focus unevenly on the retina, leading to blurred or distorted vision.
A perfectly round shape helps focus light rays sharply onto the retina so you can see clearly.
In cases of astigmatism, the light doesn’t bend evenly as it enters the eye, causing it to focus in multiple places instead of directly on the retina. This leads to blurry vision both up close and far away.
Dr Jennifer Stone, an optometrist based in Baltimore, told Health magazine that the glare from Christmas lights ‘may interfere with the crisp details of their vision and can impact distant and near objects.’
An oval-shaped lens or cornea is largely driven by genetics.
Astigmatism generally runs in families. If one or both parents have astigmatism, their children are also more likely to develop it.
But in some cases, astigmatism can develop later in life due to injury, illness, or age.
There are several tests you can do at home that mighty suggest the presence of astigmatism.
For instance, the astigmatism chart test, also known as the ‘astigmatism fan’ test, is a is a simple at-home method to check for potential signs of astigmatism.
First, print out an astigmatism chart, which typically features lines or circles radiating from a central point.
Hold the chart at a comfortable distance and cover one eye at a time.
As you focus on the lines, take note of any that appear clearer or darker than others, or if any lines seem blurry or distorted.
If you notice these irregularities, it may indicate the presence of astigmatism, but it’s important to remember that this is not a definitive diagnosis. That’s for a doctor to determine.
Astigmatism is measured in diopters, like -1.00 or -2.00, to show how uneven the curve of your eye is. The higher the number, the more correction you need to focus light properly.
Dr Jennifer Tsai, a New York City ophthalmologist, demonstrated in a video how a person with different levels of astigmatism would see when gazing upon their Christmas tree.
The lights become increasingly blurry and beam-like as the numbers tick up, from -1.00 and up.
The higher the number, the blurrier your vision gets without correction because the irregular curve in the eye is more severe.
And astigmatism is especially perilous when driving at night.
Much like the lights on a Christmas tree, lights from oncoming cars stretch and blur to the point where they almost blind the driver to other cars, enveloping them in a halo of light.
Driving may be hazardous for reasons other than beaming headlights. For example, people driving down streets lit with yard decorations and lights can make it harder to see traffic lights and signs.
Wet roads can worsen this by creating reflections, distorting vision, and intensifying glare.
Some people may experience the symptoms of astigmatism without realizing they have it.
Common signs include eye strain or discomfort, eye pain, blurry or distorted vision, headaches, fatigue, trouble seeing at night, and frequent squinting to see clearly.
If you notice these symptoms, visiting an eye doctor could help diagnose and address the issue.
The condition can be managed with glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery in some cases.
