Astigmatism is an Eye Condition

Symptoms

Blurred vision, 'ghosting' or images that are doubled are the most common symptoms.

These types of vision problems occur at all distances. Fatigue, eyestrain and frequent headaches are other symptoms that may indicate you have this condition.

Before we explain anything further, we should answer the question.

What is it?

Astigmatism is an eye condition in which a person's cornea or lens has an irregular shape. These problems are known as corneal astigmatism and lenticular astigmatism respectively.

The normal Cornea is spherical shaped, much like a baseball or tennis ball.

The cornea's job is to bend rays of light that enter the eye so that these light rays can be better focused on the lens enabling the retina to produce a clear image.

When a person has this condition the cornea is more oblong, looking more like a football or an egg.

When the cornea has a more oval shape, like that of a football, light cannot focus properly.

Instead of one focus point, as is what happens when the cornea is properly shaped, the misshapen cornea focuses light onto two areas of The Retina.

As a result, the person's vision is usually very clear in certain areas, and not clear in other areas.

That is what causes Blurred Vision and/or the appearance of Double Vision.

Generally, astigmatism is an eye condition that is hereditary. Many people are born with an odd shaped cornea that becomes more oblong over time, creating bad vision for the individual.

Astigmatism is an eye condition that can also occur from scarring associated with eye injuries or eye surgeries.

It is also associated with several Eye Diseases that cause thinning of the cornea.

Who is at risk?

The shape of the cornea can be affected by anything that causes the eyelids to exert excessive pressure on the cornea.

Astigmatism is an eye condition and factors that increase it include:

• Hereditary
• Poor posture
• Performing redundant and excessive amounts of up-close work
• Myopia also known as Nearsightedness or short sightedness
• Hyperopia also known as Farsightedness" or long-sightedness"
• Excessive rubbing of the eyes
• Head trauma or a cut, tear or scar on the cornea
• Keratoconus, a condition, which over time causes the cornea to thin and take on a more cone shape, can also cause astigmatism. This condition develops around puberty and affects more women than men.
• Finally, diabetics are at increased risk of developing astigmatism as elevated blood-sugar levels can cause the shape of the lens to change.

diabetics are at increased risk of developing astigmatism as elevated blood-sugar levels can cause the shape of the lens to change.

Early Detection/Treatment

A routine eye exam is the easiest way to detect Astigmatism. The eye doctor will do a number of tests to determine vision clarity.

To determine how light rays focus on The Retina the eye doctor can perform a refractive evaluation.

Reading the eye chart is a good way to determine visual acuity. Checking eye muscle performance, eye coordination and eye focusing capability are also part of a routine eye exam and can all help determine the presence and degree of astigmatism.

Non Surgical treatment options include corrective eyeglasses and Contact Lenses.

Surgical treatment options include Photorefractive Keratectomy or PKR which uses laser beams to change the cornea's shape.

LASIK Laser Eye Surgery involves making small incisions on the sides of cornea using laser beams. Remember Astigmatism is a eye condition not a disease.

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Astigmatism is an Eye Condition to Presbyopia

Astigmatism is an Eye Condition to Protect Your Eyesight