What is Astigmatism?

Did your ophthalmologist tell you that you have astigmatism? Maybe someone in your family has this problem, or you are suffering from astigmatic symptoms; You are seeing blurry when looking at objects near or far.

If you have a blurry vision while reading, you should know that you are not alone. Astigmatism is a very common problem. You've probably heard this term many times. So what exactly is it?

How do you get astigmatism?

Simply put, astigmatism is a condition that develops due to a cornea or lens that stretches to an irregular shape.

The corneas of people with astigmatism are more oval than round. This causes the refractive error to deflect the light entering your eyes. As a result, images look blurry.

Children and adults with astigmatism may have trouble reading texts or selecting details both far and near.

Nobody really knows why it stems. However, although it is possible for astigmatism to have various causes, there is usually one reason that is to blame: genetics. If your vision is impaired, take a look at your family tree. You have your parents and possibly other relatives too.

Is astigmatism always inherited? No, sometimes an eye trauma can trigger it. In addition, there is a keratoconus disorder that causes the cornea to take the shape of a cone. This disorder causes more severe astigmatism that requires special contact lenses or surgery, but is a rare condition.

Whether your astigmatism is mild or not very mild, it will require some form of medical correction for clear vision. Fortunately, most of the blurriness from ordinary astigmatism can be easily corrected.

How to detect astigmatism

Do you have trouble seeing far and near objects clearly? Do you have frequent headaches? Visit your ophthalmologist. Blurred vision does not automatically mean you have astigmatism. It could be something else.

With a quick (painless) examination, your ophthalmologist can evaluate whether you or any member of your family has this disorder and the steps to take to correct the problem.

If you have any blurred vision, make an appointment to discuss your options.

Astigmatism treatment

As we said, most forms of astigmatism are easy to treat. You have some corrective options. Some of those:

Glasses

Contact Lenses

LASIK surgery

Remember, not all options are equal when it comes to correcting astigmatism. If you are over 40, you may need multifocal or bifocal lenses.

Talk to your eye care professional which option is best for you and your lifestyle.

Contact lenses for astigmatism

Toric contact lenses are prescribed for patients with astigmatism.

Astigmatism contact lenses have thicker lower regions in order to prevent them from turning around themselves when they are in the eye. Thus, the lenses can be positioned in a stable and predictable manner for better visual acuity. It also makes it easier for the ophthalmologist to apply the lens to the eye.

So if you hear your eye doctor talking about the word "toric", now you know what it means in the lens world.

Correcting astigmatism can be as simple as discussing with your ophthalmologist and following the recommended options. Feel free to talk about your lens preference (eg daily wear, extended wear, etc.). Your ophthalmologist is ready to assist you.