Astigmatism Specialist

What is astigmatism?

If your cornea — clear front cover of your eye — has an irregular shape, you have astigmatism. This common condition may also occur when the curvature of your eye’s lens isn’t shaped correctly. 

If your eye has an irregular shape, meaning the surface of your cornea is more football-shaped than round, light cannot focus properly on your retina — the light-sensitive surface in the back of your eyeball.

For this reason, astigmatism is a refractive disorder, meaning since your eye can’t properly focus light, objects appear distorted. The degree of distortion depends on how severe your astigmatism is. 

People with astigmatism often have hyperopia (farsightedness) and myopia (nearsightedness), as well.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

Many of the symptoms of astigmatism are similar to other refractive disorders, like myopia and hyperopia, so it’s important to get a professional eye exam at Eye Care & Surgery to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms. Some of the signs that you may have astigmatism include:

• Blurry vision
• Areas of distorted vision
• Eye discomfort
• Headaches
• Eyestrain
• Squinting to see clearly
• Difficulty seeing at any distance
• Trouble seeing clearly at night

Most people have some degree of astigmatism because nobody’s eye shape is absolutely perfect. If symptoms prevent you from seeing clearly, your eye doctor diagnoses the cause and prescribes effective treatment options. 

What treatments are effective for astigmatism?

Even if you have astigmatism, you can achieve clear vision with prescription eyeglasses. Your doctor at Eye Care & Surgery prescribes lenses with a special cylindrical lens that compensates for your level of astigmatism. Additionally, you may be able to see clearly with contact lenses made for astigmatism. 

Contacts may provide clearer vision in a wider field of view since you wear them directly on your eyes. Special toric lenses can correct many types of astigmatism. 

Another treatment that’s effective for astigmatism includes LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) surgery. These procedures reshape your cornea so you may not need to depend on glasses or contacts to see clearly. 

To learn more about the underlying causes of your blurred vision and other symptoms, contact Eye Care & Surgery for astigmatism evaluation. You can call to schedule an appointment or book online. 

Do you suffer from Cataracts? Ask us how Cataract Surgery can help you today.