Your cornea is the portion of your eye that covers the iris and pupil and defines the shape of your eye lens. On a normal eye, both the cornea and lens have curvature that’s equal in all directions to allow light rays to adequately focus onto the retina.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens is not smooth or has irregular curvature. When this happens, light rays don’t reflect in the same way they do on a normal eye.
There are different variations of astigmatism, including corneal,which is defined by an irregularly shaped cornea. Another is when there is a distortion in the eye’s lens, which is known as lenticular.
Regardless of the type of irregularity or astigmatism an individual suffers from, the result is blurriness and overall distortion of how you see things.
Most people that have this issue are born with it, which is very common. If you have astigmatism, it’s also possible to be afflicted with other vision problems, such as nearsightedness, also known as myopia and farsightedness, which is known as hyperopia.
Frequently when a child has this issue, he or she may not notice there is a problem. It may be an issue that is not discovered until a person is a teenager or even an adult. Unfortunately, vision problemsthat are not corrected early can cause extended issues in a child’s life, including trouble with in school and outside activities. For this reason, vision professionals recommend children have an eye exam on a regular basis to detect and correct astigmatism or any other vision problem as soon as possible.
The Causes
The shape of your cornea is a difference that can vary significantly between individuals. If someone is born with astigmatism, there’s not a real reason that can be pinpointed as causing the condition, although your likelihood of having it is can be affected by genetics.In some cases, if you’re not born with this issue, it can result from something like an eye disease, injury, or surgery.
Contrary to popular belief, astigmatism will not develop or get more severe because you read in dim lighting or sit too close to a computer or television screen.
The Symptoms of Astigmatism
Aside from vision problems, you may have headaches, feel like your eyes are being strained, or constantly find yourself squinting to see things in front of you.
Getting a Diagnosis
If you feel you may suffer from astigmatism, it is important to request an eye exam as soon as possible.During your exam, the practitioner will take a number of steps, including measuring your visual acuity. This simply means you’ll be asked to read a chart containing letters and numbers to determine your vision at varying distances.
In addition to the standard chart reading, the doctor will look at how effectively your eyes are able to focus by placing different lenses in front of you. Your cornea’s curvature will be measured using a device called a keratometer.
With this series of non-invasive tests, an eye doctor can diagnose whether or not you have astigmatism.
Treatment Options
The most common corrective measure for astigmatism is the use of glasses or contact lenses. During your eye exam your eye doctor will determine the power of lenses you’ll require in order to see clearly.
Many popular manufacturers are creating lenses specifically to address this malady. Acuvue has created Oasys for Astigmatism, found here; andtoric lenses are made by Frequency and can be found here. In some cases, it may be recommended corrective surgery, such as LASIK or any number of other possible corrective procedures designed to remedy problems associated with astigmatism. No matter what route you take though, it is crucial that you obtain the guidance of a medical professional.
**This article has been contributed by Dan Cheong.
