Astigmatism: A Common but Treatable Condition
You might have heard of astigmatism — pronounced uh-STIG-muh-tiz-um — but what is it, exactly? Your bespectacled friend may announce the affliction when you reference their new frames. Or perhaps your optometrist offers the information off-handedly when going over your new prescription. This mysterious-sounding diagnosis is a relatively common optical disorder — probably a quarter or more of the United States adult population is affected by it. And while it may sound intimidating, it is pretty manageable.
What Exactly is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism falls in the category of refractive errors of the eye. With astigmatism, the front lens of the eye and the lens inside the eye don’t line up properly. It’s like attempting to stack two sitting bowls that won’t align. These mismatched curves in the eye’s lenses can cause blurred vision.
A person doesn't cause astigmatism, per se. It isn’t the result of scrolling on your phone or reading in dim lighting. It is often present at birth, though it can develop after injury, disease of the eye or surgery.
Other refractive disorders of the eye you may have heard of include myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia (age-related loss of focusing ability).
Astigmatism is more prevalent among those with myopia. Interestingly, a person with myopia may not even realize they also have astigmatism because they are already dealing with blurred vision due to myopia.
Why Your Eyes May Be Out of Shape
With astigmatism, the lenses of the eye can mismatch in a variety of ways. Corneal astigmatism occurs when the front lens is out of alignment. Lenticular astigmatism is the name for when the lens further inside your eye has unaligned curves. The lenses may be out of alignment, left to right or top to bottom, but the result is typically blurred vision.
A person with astigmatism might also experience eye strain or headaches, as well as difficulty seeing clearly at night or in bright light.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to make an appointment with your eye doctor.
How Doctors Identify Astigmatism
An optometrist or ophthalmologist can diagnose astigmatism in-office. Several methods are used, including the well-known letters wall chart, to evaluate your vision. A refraction test looks at how the light enters the eye. They measure the cornea’s curve, and they use a tool to see the different layers and parts of the eye.
The good news is that astigmatism, in its many varieties, can be corrected.
Treatment and Management
Astigmatism is frequently addressed with corrective lenses — glasses or contacts. Refractive surgery, otherwise known as LASIK or PRK, is an option in some instances. Some mild cases may not even require correction.
If left uncorrected, those with astigmatism may suffer from distorted vision, eyestrain and double vision. Uncorrected astigmatism can affect quality of life, increase the likelihood of falls and make driving at night more difficult.
Your eye doctor can easily assess you for astigmatism, so be sure to schedule regular eye exams.
Astigmatism is common, but this eye condition is also extremely manageable. Care for your eyes with regular eye exams and follow the instructions of your optometrist or ophthalmologist.
To get more valuable eye health insights, visit healthyvisionassociation.com/articles.
Articles in this newsletter are supposed to be informative, enlightening and helpful to you. While all information contained herein is meant to be completely factual, it is always subject to change. Articles are not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your doctor regarding any concerns you have.
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