What is Astigmatism?
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A common eye disorder, astigmatism occurs when there is an irregular curvature in the cornea, which is the front surface of the eye. As a result, some of the areas of the cornea are steeper, while others are flatter.
The American Optometric Association added that in some cases, the astigmatism results from irregular curvature of the lens, which is inside the eye. With the irregular curvature, light refraction is altered, causing the patient to have blurred vision.
The University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center noted that some experts think that the majority of people have a degree of astigmatism, which can start as early as birth. Some people develop astigmatism after having surgery on the eye, such as with cataract surgery.
Patients with astigmatism have blurred vision at all distances. Often, a patient with astigmatism can have another eye disorder, such as hyperopia (farsightedness) and myopia (nearsightedness).
Besides the blurred vision, patients can also experience headaches, squinting, eye strain and discomfort, and fatigue. The National Eye Institute added that patients with astigmatism can have difficulty driving at night.
To diagnose astigmatism, the doctor will measure the light reflected from the cornea and measure the curvature of the cornea. To measure reflected light, the doctor will use a keratometer, which also measures the orientation of the astigmatism. A keratoscope is used to measure the curvature and allows the doctor to see the degree of the curvature.
Several treatment options are available for astigmatism. If a patient’s astigmatism is minor and she does not have hyperopia or myopia, the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center noted that she may not need corrective lenses. If astigmatism does cause symptoms that interfere in the patient’s life, such as headaches and eyestrain, then the doctor may recommend corrective lenses.
Patients may choose to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. The type of corrective lenses used specifically for astigmatism are called toric lenses.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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