ASTIGMATISM

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is an eye condition caused by irregular curvature of cornea (the front black surface of the eye). The main symptom of astigmatism is blurred vision that causes confusion and possible mis-judgement of alphabets, numbers and images along with associated headaches.

When light rays enter the eye, they do not focus correctly on the retina, resulting in a blurred image. Astigmatism may also be caused by an irregularly shaped lens, which is located behind the cornea.

Causes of Astigmatism

The cornea and lens are primarily responsible for properly focusing light entering your eyes allowing you to see things clearly. The curvature of the cornea and lens causes light entering the eye to be bent in order to focus it precisely on the retina at the back of the eye. In astigmatism, the surface of the cornea or lens has a somewhat different curvature in one direction than another. In the case of the cornea, instead of having a round shape like a basketball, the surface of the cornea is more like a football. As a result, the eye is unable to focus light rays to a single point causing vision to be out of focus at any distance.

Sometimes astigmatism may develop following an eye injury or eye surgery. There is also a relatively rare condition called keratoconus, where the cornea becomes progressively thinner and cone shaped. This results in a large amount of astigmatism resulting in poor vision that cannot be clearly corrected with spectacles. Keratoconus usually requires semi soft contact lenses for clear vision, and it may eventually progress to a point where a corneal transplant is necessary.

Astigmatism Treatment

Eyeglasses are the primary choice of correction for persons with astigmatism. They will contain a special cylindrical lens prescription to compensate for the astigmatism. This provides for additional lens power in only specific meridians of the lens. A wide variety of lens types and frame designs are now available for patients of all ages.

Eyeglasses are no longer just a medical device that provides needed vision correction. Eyeglass frames are available in a many shapes, sizes, colors and materials that not only allow for correction of vision, but also enhance appearance and meet one’s lifestyle needs.
For some individuals, contact lenses can offer better vision than eyeglasses. They may provide clearer vision and a wider field of view. However, since contact lenses are worn directly on the eyes, they require regular cleaning and care to safeguard eye health.