Chinese Man Nearly Blind After Slapping Eye Over Superstition

A man from Wuhan, China, recently underwent emergency surgery after his retina detached—a complication caused by repeatedly slapping his right eyelid over three days in hopes of warding off bad luck. According to ancient Chinese superstition, a twitching left eye brings good fortune while a twitching right eye brings misfortune.

When his right eye continued twitching despite rest and warm compresses, the man searched online for remedies. He found advice claiming that slapping the eyelid could "dispel bad luck," so he followed this method for three consecutive days.

Although the twitching eventually stopped, he developed severe vision problems—he could only see straight ahead and was completely blind to both sides.

Doctors diagnosed a detached retina and successfully restored his vision through surgery. They explained that the retina is extremely thin, measuring less than 0.3 millimeters on average. Violent impacts or strikes to the eye can send shock waves through to the eyeball, significantly increasing the risk of retinal tears and detachment.

The case sparked widespread discussion online in China, with many viewing it as an important cautionary tale about blindly following superstitions. Some commenters noted that "the right eye twitching ultimately did bring bad luck—but caused by the man's own actions." Others emphasized that eye twitching is simply a physical signal from the body, not a predictor of fate, and that medical principles should be trusted over traditional beliefs.

Doctors note that short-term eyelid twitching is usually caused by excessive screen use, insufficient rest, or stress, and typically improves with adequate rest. However, if twitching persists beyond one week or spreads to the cheek or mouth corners, medical attention should be sought immediately.