Astigmatism - Causes and Treatment

Typically astigmatism accompanies a diagnosis of farsightedness or nearsightedness. It may result from a cornea that is unusually shaped. At other times astigmatism results when the lens located behind the cornea is shaped abnormally.

Signs and Symptoms
Most people who have very mild astigmatism don't even realize it. For some the only symptom is slightly blurry vision. For others headaches and eyestrain are common side effects of their condition. Patients with more moderate astigmatism may notice some distortion or blurring of their vision at near and far distances.

Children are just as likely to develop astigmatism as adults, though the condition is more commonly diagnosed in adults as children are often unaware they have a problem with their eyesight. Some children have difficulty seeing well however when playing sports or while in school. For this reason most eye doctors recommend a routine eye exam.

The most common cause of astigmatism is an irregularly shaped cornea. Usually in patients with astigmatism the cornea is shaped similarly to a football than a sphere. This may result in vision problems or difficulty focusing. When the cornea is oblong shaped light tends to focus on two points at the back of the eye instead of a single point. This may compromise vision minimally.

There are two forms of astigmatism, regular and irregular. In regular cases the meridians housing the curves of the cornea are roughly 180 degrees apart. In an irregular astigmatism the meridians are located at any other distance and typically there is more than one meridian. Regular astigmatism is more easily corrected than an irregular astigmatism.

Risk Factors for Astigmatism
Most people inherit the likelihood they will develop astigmatism. Others will develop an astigmatism resulting from an injury to the eye or cornea. Still others may develop astigmatism resulting from surgery to the eye or from a disease resulting in thinning of the cornea (called keratoconus).

Treating Astigmatism
Astigmatism is one of the simpler vision problems to correct. Most patients will realize a complete relief of symptoms simply by using corrective lenses. Most patients with astigmatism will receive a prescription with three parts that includes correction for near or farsightedness plus the astigmatism.

Several years ago patients with astigmatism were not good candidates for soft contact lenses. Today however unless as a patient you have a severe form of astigmatism, contact lenses work just fine for correcting your vision. Some doctors may recommend refractive surgery to correct very severe cases of astigmatism. This may include LASIK surgery to completely resolve or moderate your condition.

Astigmatism is typically diagnosed in the course of an ordinary eye exam. If you are having problems however with your vision, experiencing frequent headaches, having trouble focusing or see blurry spots in your vision, it is important you contact your eye care professional for a complete evaluation. Your doctor can recommend the most appropriate form of treatment based on the severity of your condition and medical history.

Related Articles:

• Toric Contact Lenses For Astigmatism

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