Astigmatism is a condition where vision is disordered (blurred, unfocused, fuzzy) because the cornea (the front surface of the eye) or lens, which is located behind the cornea, has an abnormal or irregular curve (misshaped). Astigmatism can occur in children as well as adults. Astigmatism is fairly common and not contagious.
There are two common types of astigmatism: corneal astigmatism and lenticular astigmatism.
There are several treatment options for astigmatism. If you suspect you have astigmatism, contact your doctor.
The precise cause of astigmatism is unknown. It is often present at birth and may coexist with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Sometimes it may occur after an injury or eye surgery.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chances of developing astigmatism. If you have any of these risk factors, tell your doctor:
The symptoms for astigmatism vary from person-to-person. Some people might be asymptomatic (showing no signs of the condition) while others are symptomatic (showing signs of the condition). If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to astigmatism. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You may also be referred to a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of eye disorders and vision measurements (ophthalmologists) or a trained and licensed professional who can diagnosis vision and eye disease and prescribe corrective lenses (optometrist). Tests may include the following:
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Corrective lenses, such as glasses or toric contact lens, are prescribed to offset the eye’s visual abnormalities or defects, such as excessive nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
To correct severe astigmatism, an ophthalmologist might use special knives or a laser beam to correct the abnormal or irregular curve of the cornea. The surgery is an outpatient procedure (does not require a hospital stay) that is performed with local anesthesia.
There are three types of surgical procedures that an ophthalmologist might perform:
There are risk factors associated with all surgery. To choose the best surgical treatment option for your condition, it is important that you speak with your doctor about potential risks and side effects.
RESOURCES:
American Optometric Association
http://www.aoa.org
Astigmatism
Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/astigmatism/DS00230/DSECTION=3
National Eye Institute (NEI)
http://www.nei.nih.gov
Prevent Blindness America
http://www.preventblindness.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
http://www.eyesite.ca
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind
http://www.cnib.ca
References:
Condon PI, Mulhern M, Fulcher T, et al. Laser intrastromal keratomileusis for high myopia and myopic astigmatism. Br J Ophthalmol . 1997;81(3):199-206.
Goss DA. Refractive error changes in mixed astigmatism. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt . 1999;19(5):438-40.
Holladay JT, Moran JR, Kezirian GM. Analysis of aggregate surgically induced refractive change, prediction error, and intraocular astigmatism. J Cataract Refract Surg . 2001;27(1):61-79.
Komaroff AL, ed. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide . New York, NY: Simon and Schuster; 1999:423-425.
Kymionis GD, Aslanides M, Khoury AN, et al. Laser in situ keratomileusis for residual hyperopic astigmatism after conductive keratoplasty. J Refract Surg . 2004;20(3):276-8.
Miller JM, Dobson V, Harvey EM, et al. Comparison of preschool vision screening methods in a population with a high prevalence of astigmatism. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci . 2001;42(5):917-24.
Pesudovs K. Autorefraction as an outcome measure of laser in situ keratomileusis. J Cataract Refract Surg . 2004;30(9):1921-8.
Taneri S, Feit R, Azar DT. Safety, efficacy, and stability indices of LASEK correction in moderate myopia and astigmatism. J Cataract Refract Surg . 2004 Oct;30(10):2130-7.
Tobaigy FM, Ghanem RC, Sayegh RR, Hallak JA, Azar DT. A Control-matched comparison of laser epithelial keratomileusis and laser in situ keratomileusis for low to moderate myopia. Am J Ophthalmol . 2006 Dec;142(6):901-908. Epub 2006 Sep 8.
Varley GA, Huang D, Rapuano CJ, et al. LASIK for hyperopia, hyperopic astigmatism, and mixed astigmatism: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology . 2004;111(8):1604-17.
Last reviewed September 2009 by Christopher Cheyer, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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