Why I see 20 stars forming letter "a" instead of one?

Question

My question about the eye vision. I have presbyopia and use glasses +2 dptr for long distance. If I look at a point of light, like a star on the sky (or a lightdiod- small lamp- from distance 10'...20') wearing glasses, I see perfectly one point of light. If I take off my glasses, each of my eyes- instead of seeing eroded, out of focus, spread-ed, smeared ellipse or circle of light- see many (20...40) points of light different intensities but the same, like original light, color. They form a figure something like letter "a" or "d" depend on eye. If I look without glasses to a distant human face, I see 2...3 pars of lips one under another, and 2...3 pars eyes one under another- instead of seeing just dis-focused smeared face. I observed that effect in the last 15...20 years and figures of letters "a" or "d" slightly changed with years but insignificantly. I can not explain that effect. I think that using point of light for eye test can give a lot of information about eye condition.Arno.

Answer 1

If you use a + RX for DISTANCE presbyopia is not what you have, because that is needing a more +ve Rx for NEAR than whatever you do need in the distance.

(Applies on average from theage of 45 for Europeans, somewhat earlier for Africans and Asians)

What you're describing is very much the effect I'd expect from uncorrected astigmatism, and my strong suspicion is that your "seeing perfectly" with a +2.00 RX (Ready-made reading glasses of that strength?) is actually only "seeing better", not perfectly at all,  and that a proper Rx would show the difference.

I could be wrong, but I;m just going on the information you've given. and years of experience listening to such descriptions.

The most likely alternative is some degree of corneal irregularity, such as can follow a corneal infection or ulcer, but again, there, I would not expct "perfect" vision with the glasses.

Optometrist, retired.