In the pursuit of a perfect day riding the waves, an ordinary surf trip twisted into a surreal nightmare. What began as a familiar, joyful escape with his brother turned into a disorienting battle as colors bled into unnatural hues, turning the world into a distorted, alien landscape. The vibrant reds of the rocks and the eerie green of the campfire heralded an unseen danger, a silent surrender of his senses.
As hours stretched into a restless night, the vivid palette of reality shattered completely. The stark contrast of black and white dissolved into maroon and monstrous green, while reds and yellows melted into strange oranges. Trapped in this warped vision, he faced a haunting question—had a day on the ocean permanently altered the way he sees the world, or was this the beginning of something far darker?
TIFU by Accidentally Making Myself Colorblind (?)
As noted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause photokeratitis, commonly known as ‘snow blindness’ or ‘sunburn of the eye,’ which is an inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva. The user’s description of vision changes—where black appears maroon and white appears green—strongly suggests significant corneal damage affecting the photoreceptors’ sensitivity and color perception.
The individual’s initial reaction, brushing off the redness as ‘normal’ after four hours, demonstrates a critical lapse in risk assessment, likely driven by the immersion in the enjoyable activity (flow state) outweighing self-preservation. The progression of symptoms, where colors inverted or shifted dramatically (e.g., white turning green), indicates a severe photochemical injury. The eventual medical diagnosis of burnt corneas confirms this acute overexposure. The subsequent good news regarding likely non-permanent damage is contingent upon strict adherence to the doctor’s orders regarding sun avoidance.
The OP’s actions were inappropriate in terms of self-care and adherence to basic safety protocols for water sports; eight continuous hours without adequate UV protection, especially when symptoms first appeared, was reckless. For future situations, the constructive recommendation is to implement mandatory ‘checkpoints.’ If any visual discomfort or color distortion begins, the activity must cease immediately, and appropriate protective eyewear (like high-quality, full-wrap UV-blocking sunglasses or goggles) must be used when returning to the water, even briefly.
THE COMMENTS SECTION WENT WILD – REDDIT HAD *A LOT* TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE.
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Get some UV Protection googles
The individual experienced a severe, self-inflicted eye injury due to prolonged, unprotected sun exposure while surfing. The central conflict lies between the desire for an intense, full-day recreational activity and the body’s critical need for protection and rest, leading to temporary but significant sensory impairment.
Given the temporary diagnosis of burnt corneas and the expected recovery time, is the primary lesson learned about the necessity of proper protective gear, or is it about recognizing and immediately responding to the body’s subtle initial warnings during extreme physical activity?
