Rosario Monachino
An optical illusion that shows a hidden number is making the rounds online and it’s left people divided.
At first, an optical illusion can seem fun as you try to solve the mystery and debate with friends that you are seeing things differently.
But the longer you spend on it, the more frustrated you can become and it becomes a relief, rather than a joy once you solve it.
So it’s no surprise that one illusion has gone viral on social media and it’s proving to be difficult for those who look at it.
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Shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), one person posted an image which shows a black-and-white circle with a number hidden within it.
But the question that is leaving the internet baffled is what number do we actually see?
The number I noticed first was ‘45283’, which judging by the comments most people also noticed.
One person says: “45283 …and what’s the catch? Should I book an appointment with my GP?”
But others who have looked at the illusion have claimed to have seen something else.
Someone else writes: “I can only see 528. Does that mean anything about my eyesight?”
Another replies: “1528? What’s going on here?”
“3452839. End of discussion,” pens a third.
DO you see a number?
If so, what number? pic.twitter.com/wUK0HBXQZF
— Benonwine (@benonwine) February 16, 2022
A fourth person adds: “I can see 45283, since looking at the other replies I’ve others are seeing two other numbers. I can see there are numbers there but can’t make them out.”
Someone else questions: “Do you need both eyes for this? I have no central vision in one eye, all I can see is the centre two.”
The full answer is believed to be 3452839. If you’re struggling to see this, it’s suggested you lay your phone down on a flat surface and the full digits should appear.
However, one comment may have provided an explanation as to why we are all seeing something different.
They write: “I’m guessing the numbers you see depend on your ‘contrast sensitivity’ (different from what a standard eye measures).
“It can be tested by opticians. Worth doing if you’re struggling, as it can affect your ability to see at night, or in rain, fog, etc.”
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According to WebMD, contrast sensitivity is ‘the ability to tell the difference between two similar colours or shades of grey’.
It also helps you distinguish and separate the object in the image from the background.
So in terms of this optical illusion, the number you see in the circle might depend on how strong your contrast sensitivity is.
The health organisation states that reduced contrast sensitivity can deeply affect your life – with car accidents often associated with weak contrast sensitivity.
It also adds: “Older people with contrast sensitivity reduction are much more likely to develop dementia or mild cognitive impairment.”
Fortunately, there are tests which can determine how sharp your vision is at certain distances – as well as ‘your ability to distinguish between finer and finer increments of light versus dark (contrast)’, as per All About Vision.
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