Astigmatism Treatments

Astigmatism is a common refractive error that is characterized by blurred vision. Astigmatism usually occurs due to irregular shape of the cornea. In a normal eye, the cornea is round and smooth. In patients with astigmatism, the cornea will have an asymmetric shape. Due to its irregular shape, light rays focus on two points at the back of the eyes rather than one, causing vision to be out of focus.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms of astigmatism usually include blurred vision, accompanied with headaches and eyestrain. Astigmatism often occurs together with other refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. An eye examination testing your visual acuity and your eye's refraction is required to confirm the condition. Sometimes a special test using a keratometer is also utilized during the eye examination to evaluate the eye's curvature and the severity of the astigmatism. While it is unknown what causes astigmatism, the condition is very common and is typically present at birth.

Treatment Options

Astigmatism is usually hereditary and can get worse as time passes. Typically, a minor degree of astigmatism does not require treatment. If treatment is necessary, eyeglasses and contact lenses are often the first choice to improve vision. Most patients find that hard contact lenses are more effective at treating vision problems caused by astigmatism than soft contact lenses. The contact lenses can be prescribed with a special prescription for nearsightedness or farsightedness, according to the patient's vision needs. Astigmatism can also be treated with the help of refractive surgery according to the eye surgeon's recommendation.

If you have astigmatism or the symptoms of astigmatism and would like to know more about your treatment options, contact an ophthalmology clinic to schedule an appointment.