An introduction to astigmatism
- Laser eye surgery is a safe and effective treatment for astigmatism
- Astigmatism is a common eye condition where a person has an irregular curvature of the cornea.
- A person’s eye is naturally spherical in shape. Under normal circumstances, when light enters the eye, it refracts evenly, creating a clear view of the object.
- However, the eye of a person with astigmatism is shaped more like a football or the back of a spoon.
- For this person, when light enters the eye, the cornea refracts (bends) the light more in one direction than the other, allowing only part of the object to be in focus at one time.
- Objects at any distance can appear blurry and wavy.
How astigmatism symptoms can impact your life
Astigmatism can significantly affect how you perceive the world.
Symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Blurry, distorted, or fuzzy vision up close, far away and in between
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Eyestrain
- Squinting
- Eye irritation
- Headaches
These astigmatism symptoms can have profound negative effects on your lifestyle, depending on how you use your eyes. Fortunately, you can correct the effects of astigmatism with corrective lenses or permanently correct astigmatism with laser vision correction.
Don’t feel overly concerned about astigmatism
Instead, think of astigmatism as just one of the many beautiful and infinite differences we see in all of us. Some of us have longer than average arms and legs, some of us have shorter than average arms and legs. This variety in nature includes the shape and size of our eyes.
You’re more at risk for astigmatism if you have:
- A family history of astigmatism
- Scarring or thinning of your cornea
- Excessive nearsightedness
- Excessive farsightedness
There is no way you can prevent astigmatism from developing.
Causes of astigmatism
Like a basketball a healthy and normal eye is spherical. When your eye is more oval shaped (like a football) – you’ve got astigmatism. That means that the curvature of the cornea (the transparent covering at the front of the eye) is not the same vertically as it is horizontally.
When light enters the eye, the eye focuses light on two different planes rather than at a single point. Images appear blurred or distorted, and you may experience ‘ghosting’ or ‘double-vision’. The picture below illustrates how light focuses on the retina of a healthy eye versus an eye with astigmatism.
You can have an astigmatism examination in Toronto
An ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) or optometrist (eye doctor) can diagnose astigmatism by conducting a comprehensive eye exam that includes:
- A visual acuity assessment test – reading letters from a chart at a specific distance to see how well you can read the letters
- A refraction test – a machine that performs a similar job as we describe above
- Keratometry – a device that an eye doctor or surgeon can use to measure the curvature of your cornea
- Sometimes, severe forms of astigmatism can develop into disease states, like keratoconus
Keratoconus is a severe and progressive condition, so if you find your astigmatism worsening, it’s imperative that you get an eye exam at your earliest opportunity. If you think you have astigmatism and wish to discuss surgical treatment, contact us.
Astigmatism treatment details
Glasses and toric contact lenses are temporary solutions to correct astigmatism. People have a common misconception that laser eye surgery cannot correct astigmatism. This is wrong. Laser eye surgeons can use any of the following procedures to permanently cure astigmatism.
- Learn about ReLEx SMILE Procedure
- Learn about Custom Bladeless LASIK surgery
- Learn about Custom PRK
FAQs
Does astigmatism worsen with age?
Astigmatism can change with age, and while it may stabilize, progression is possible, particularly during periods of eye development. Regular eye exams are crucial to monitor any alterations in astigmatism over time. This enables timely adjustments to corrective measures, ensuring optimal vision and eye health throughout the aging process.
Is astigmatism influenced by genetics?
Yes, there is a hereditary component to astigmatism. Individuals with a family history of astigmatism are more likely to develop this refractive error. However, while genetics can contribute to the likelihood of astigmatism, environmental factors, and eye health also play roles in its development. Regular eye examinations are crucial for early detection and management, especially for those with a family history of astigmatism.
What are the corrective measures for astigmatism?
At Clearview Vision Institute, astigmatism is corrected through personalized solutions. For those seeking a more permanent solution, advanced refractive surgeries like LASIK or PRK are available, providing precise reshaping of the cornea. Clearview Vision Institute's experienced professionals conduct thorough eye examinations to determine the most effective and customized approach for astigmatism correction based on individual needs.
What signs indicate the presence of astigmatism?
Astigmatism symptoms include blurred or distorted vision, eye strain, headaches, and difficulty focusing on objects both near and far. Squinting may be common as a way to improve visual clarity. If you experience these symptoms, it is advisable to undergo a comprehensive eye examination to determine the presence and extent of astigmatism, with corrective measures such as eyeglasses or contact lenses often prescribed for clearer vision.
How often is astigmatism observed?
Astigmatism is a common refractive error affecting a significant portion of the global population. Its prevalence varies, with mild cases being more widespread than higher degrees of astigmatism. Found at any age, astigmatism often coexists with other vision conditions, emphasizing the importance of regular eye examinations to determine the extent of astigmatism and prescribe suitable corrective measures like eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery for optimal vision.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism describes the way light focuses in our eye and it causes a ray of light to split focus. Most people have astigmatism, though the amount of astigmatism can range. Sometimes astigmatism can cause vision to be blurry or print to look like their is an overlapping shadow image. Others may find astigmatism does not cause visual symptoms
Can astigmatism be cured?
Most people with astigmatism can correct their vision through glasses, contact lenses, or laser vision correction. If your astigmatism is getting worse at a fast rate, it is best to consult your eyecare professional to rule out other conditions
What is the main cause of astigmatism?
How we focus can depend on the combination of how the natural lens inside of our eye and the cornea, the front part of our eye, work together. Astigmatism can be caused by the shape of the cornea or lens not being perfectly spherical. This causes light entering our eye to split focus and may be viewed as a blurry or shadowy image. Most people have some astigmatism. Not all astigmatism is symptomatic
Can astigmatism be improved naturally?
Based on evidence based medicine, and in our opinion, the answer is NO. The best options remain glasses, contacts and surgical interventions such as Laser Vision Correction.
Do you need to wear glasses for astigmatism?
It depends. Some people have a minor amount of astigmatism and they feel as though their vision is still clear. Others have astigmatism that is symptomatic and may benefit from corrective lenses. It is best to consult your eyecare professional every 1-2 years for professional advice
Dear Dr. Kranemann, Many thanks in the nice, smooth and trouble free cataract surgery you carried out on both my eyes at Clearview Institute. I would like also to extend my thanks to all the staff of clearview. They are efficient, kind hearted and very helpful. J.T.
Dr. Kranemann is exceptionally intelligent and experienced. He is passionate about achieving perfect results for his patients, and proved it by correcting my father’s vision perfectly. We are very happy and grateful and highly recommend Dr. Kranemann. B.A.
Had the new vision correction procedure SMILE. WOW is all I can say. Life without glasses is amazing. Great surgeon and medical staff. Will refer his expertise on to family and friends. D.C.
Book A Free Consultation
