What is astigmatism?
When Dr. Rosenberg diagnoses patients with astigmatism, they’re often relieved to learn that it’s not an eye disease, but a refractive error.
In fact, astigmatism affects the shape and size of your eye. If you have astigmatism, either your cornea is abnormally shaped, or the lens in your eye behind your pupil has an irregular curve.
The abnormal curves of your eye caused by astigmatism interfere with the way your eye focuses light on your retina, resulting in blurry vision.
Many people have some degree of astigmatism, which blurs your vision at any distance. Astigmatism often accompanies other refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia).
What are the signs of astigmatism?
Astigmatism, as with other refractive errors, causes blurry vision, which can lead to squinting, eyestrain, and headaches. If you only have a slight degree of astigmatism you may not notice the visual disturbance, but even a small level of astigmatism can cause headaches and eyestrain.
If you have frequent headaches or eye strain or fatigue, make an appointment with Dr. Rosenberg at Bridge Opticians for expert assessments and treatment options.
What causes astigmatism?
A healthy normal eyeball is round. However, if you have astigmatism, your cornea causes your eye to become football or egg-shaped. This distortion affects the way light passes into your eye and interferes with the way it focuses on your retina.
The precise cause of astigmatism isn’t fully understood. However, your risk of developing astigmatism or another refractive error increases if you have a family history of vision problems.
How is astigmatism treated?
Treatment for astigmatism depends on the degree of your condition. At Bridge Opticians, Dr. Rosenberg provides comprehensive eye exams to measure your refractive error and identify the best lens type and strength to correct your vision.
In most cases, astigmatism can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. If you choose contact lenses, you may need to wear hard — rigid gas permeable (RGP) — lenses for the clearest and sharpest vision. Other options include toric lenses or hybrid contact lenses that combine rigid and soft plastics.
If you’re concerned about your vision or are due for an eye exam, call Bridge Opticians or schedule an appointment online today.
