I believe what you are referring to is the spikes in star images caused by diffraction, most often seen in reflecting telescopes or an effect in the eye called Entoptic phenomenon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entoptic_phenomenon
Most small reflecting telescopes have a secondary mirror supported by three vanes. This causes diffraction spikes at right angles to the vanes. In a telescope with 3 vanes, you may see three spikes, like a triangle. There are sometimes 4 in larger telescopes.
Obstructions to the eye, such as long lashes, can also produce diffraction of starlight (Entoptic phenomenon).
Our know-it-all friend Wikipedia has a good explanation of diffraction spikes with illustrations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction_spike
A more detailed explanation: But be forewarned, the illustration is mistaken! The spikes are at right angles to the obstructions, not aligned with them! Error! (Study your waves, folks!) Unfortunately I see this common error all the time. Astronomers should study optics itself in much more detail, both physical optics and natural optics.
http://www.beugungsbild.de/diffraction/diffraction.html