Astigmatism, Eye Care and Your Vision

Are you experiencing blurry or double vision, headaches or trouble with night vision? These may be symptoms of a common eye condition, known as astigmatism. This condition occurs when either the lens of the eye or the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) is more oval or egg shaped, rather than round.
 

Astigmatism often occurs at birth, and can be accompanied by either nearsightedness or farsightedness. In many cases, it is not severe enough to require treatment or correction.
 

How Does Astigmatism Affect Vision?

The irregular curve of the cornea or lens that characterizes astigmatism can cause a number of refractive errors and other vision problems, including:
 

• Eye irritation
• Squinting
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Headaches
• Eyestrain
• Blurry, distorted, or fuzzy vision at all distances (up close and far away)

If you regularly experience these symptoms, speak to our eye doctor to see if a diagnosis of astigmatism is appropriate and what treatment, if any, is necessary.

Can Astigmatism Be Cured Permanently?

Though very young children will sometimes outgrow astigmatism that they were born with, there are no other natural or medicinal ways to cure astigmatism.
 

However, certain surgeries, such as LASIK, PRK and other laser surgeries are an option for correction of astigmatism. In some cases, lens replacement surgeries, similar to those performed in the removal of cataracts, may be considered. However, invasive procedures are only recommended for those with astigmatism that cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts.
 

Though it is debatable, some evidence may suggest that certain types of eye exercises can also help correct astigmatism. Speak to your eye doctor about these exercises, and see if they feel these exercises may help you.
 

For more information on how astigmatism may affect your vision, and how we can help treat it, contact our eye doctors at today!
 

Q&A

Do I need special contact lenses to correct my astigmatism?

This depends on the severity of your astigmatism. For those with low or mild astigmatism, normal soft contact lenses are a popular option. For more severe cases, special contact lenses, called toric lenses, or rigid gas-permeable lenses may be the best option for comfortable, clear vision correction.
 

Are there specific factors that increase my risk for astigmatism?

According to extensive research, there are a number of factors that may make it more likely for you to have astigmatism. If you have a family history of astigmatism, or have severe farsightedness or nearsightedness, your risk for astigmatism is much higher.