Astigmatism
Astigmatism is perhaps the most common vision problem and may accompany nearsightedness or farsightedness. It is a refractive condition that limits the clarity of vision and is not a disease. Astigmatism occurs in perfectly healthy eyes. When symptomatic, it can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
Astigmatism usually occurs when the front surface of the eye, the cornea, has an uneven curvature. Ideally, the cornea is smooth and equally curved circumferentially and light from all planes and directions on entering the cornea is focused evenly. In astigmatism, the front surface of the cornea is often curved more in one direction than in the other. This abnormality may result in vision that is much like looking into a distorted, wavy mirror. The distortion results because of an inability of the eye to focus all light rays to a point on the plane of the retina.
Signs of Astigmatism
If you have only a small amount of astigmatism, you may not notice it. Early signs of astigmatism include blurred vision, eye strain, or headaches. A careful eye exam can detect astigmatism. It is very common that astigmatism first becomes symptomatic as one approaches 40 years of age.
Treatment
Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Many people with astigmatism believe they can't wear contact lenses, or that only rigid contact lenses can correct astigmatism — but this is no longer true. Now there are soft lens designs that correct astigmatism; they are called toric contact lenses. Toric lenses have greater light-bending power in one axis than in others and may also contain a prescription for nearsightedness or farsightedness as needed.
Astigmatism may increase slowly. Regular eye care can help to insure that proper vision is maintained. You may have to adjust to wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses if you do not wear them now. Other than that, astigmatism probably will not significantly affect your lifestyle at all.
You also may choose refractive surgery for correcting your astigmatism. Exciting advances in laser technology have now made correction of astigmatism as easy as the correction of near and farsightedness. Schedule and appointment with Dr. Auker to see which corrective method would be best for you.
