The 1998 Eye Chart meme utilizes the familiar layout of a Snellen vision test chart to deliver punchlines that typically get smaller and harder to read as the text descends. While standard eye charts are clinical tools, the internet has repurposed them to present uncomfortable truths, hidden insults, or niche observations that require the viewer to focus closely. The '1998' designation often points to a specific era of digital aesthetic or nostalgic health class memories. It is widely used to mock someone’s inability to see a situation clearly or to hide 'easter egg' messages that reward those who zoom in on the smaller rows.