Patients Guide to Astigmatism: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Astigmatism develops when the cornea or lens is irregularly shaped. It typically causes blurry vision. According to the American College of Ophthalmology, astigmatism is very common and often occurs along with other refractive errors, such as farsightedness or nearsightedness.

The only way to properly diagnose astigmatism is through a comprehensive eye exam. An accurate diagnosis can help manage astigmatism and improve vision.

The article below provides a guide to astigmatism, including symptoms, risk factors, and treatments.
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Causes and risk factors

The lens and cornea usually have a well-rounded shape that focus light rays on the retina, allowing for clear vision. If you have astigmatism, the abnormal shape of the cornea causes the light to bend improperly. This leads to blurry vision, affecting both far and near vision.

Experts are not entirely sure what causes astigmatism, and there is no way to prevent it from developing. In some cases, an individual is born with astigmatism, but many people also develop the condition as children or young adults.

Certain factors increase the risk of developing astigmatism, such as having sustained an eye injury or after eye surgery.
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Symptoms

Doctors may categorize astigmatism into different levels depending on the severity of symptoms, including mild, moderate, and severe.

Astigmatism may increase or decrease over time. Typical symptoms include the following:

• Blurry vision
• Areas of distorted vision
• Squinting to see clearly
• Eye discomfort
• Eye strain
• Headaches

Keep in mind these symptoms are sometimes subtle and can occur with several other types of eye conditions. It is best to see an eye care specialist to determine if you have astigmatism or other type of refractive error.
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Treatment

Treatment and management for astigmatism may include the following:

Eyeglasses: In many cases, individuals with astigmatism choose eyeglasses to help improve vision. Eyeglasses used to treat astigmatism have cylindrical lenses that help compensate for the astigmatism. Glasses for people with astigmatism may also have specialized lens coating and lens material that help correct blurry vision.  

Contact lenses: Although standard soft contact lenses may not be effective in correcting astigmatism, there are special lenses that may help. Soft toric contact lenses are a special type of lens that may correct certain types of astigmatism. This type of rigid gas permeable lens maintains its regular shape while on the cornea. This compensates for the cornea's irregular shape in people who have astigmatism.

Some people may prefer contacts to glasses when they have astigmatism. This is because the lenses provide a wider field of vision compared to glasses.

Refractive Surgery: Refractive surgery and laser procedures may also help correct astigmatism. Different types of surgical procedures that involve reshaping the cornea are available. The best type of surgical procedure recommended to you for correcting astigmatism may vary and will depend on various factors including:

• The severity of the astigmatism
• The thickness of your cornea
• Underlying health conditions
• Risk factors for healing

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Your eye surgeon will discuss various factors with you, such as the risks and benefits of different surgical approaches, to determine a treatment that meets your needs.

If you have any questions about astigmatism or treatment options, please give us a call.

Also, if you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.