Opticians correct astigmatism primarily with eyeglasses and toric contact lenses that use cylindrical (or spherocylindrical) lenses with specific axis alignment to bend light correctly onto the retina, compensating for the eye's irregular curve. For more severe cases or preference, options include rigid gas permeable (RGP) or hybrid contacts, or even refractive surgery (like LASIK), which reshapes the cornea for a more permanent fix, but lenses remain the most common solution.
Eyeglasses for astigmatism
One of the most common ways to improve vision if you have astigmatism is with eyeglasses. These glasses have a toric lens, which is a slightly differently shaped lens made specifically for people with astigmatism.
Kids can be born with astigmatism or develop it as they grow. Having an eye injury can cause it too. Sometimes there is a family history of astigmatism.
Misaligned eyes force extraocular muscles to work harder, leading to eye strain. Eye misalignment can lead to eye strain, nausea, vertigo, and migraine headaches by sending conflicting signals to the brain, resulting in dizziness or motion sickness.
Astigmatism is diagnosed with an eye exam. A complete eye exam involves both a series of tests to check eye health and a refraction, which determines how the eyes bend light. Your eye doctor may use various instruments, aim bright lights directly at your eyes and ask you to look through several lenses.
In an astigmatic eye, the cornea or lens of the eye is somewhat misshapen, causing light to focus unevenly on the retina. This results in blurred or distorted vision. Astigmatism has a genetic component, so if your mother has it, you may be at a higher risk for it.
Astigmatism is caused by a cornea or lens that has a different shape than normal. Astigmatism is very common. Doctors don't know why the shape of the cornea or lens varies from person to person. But they do know the risk of getting astigmatism is inherited (passed down from parents).
Astigmatism can change or worsen over a person's lifetime due to several factors, including age, eye injuries, or conditions like keratoconus. However, it's not all bad news. Astigmatism is typically an easily managed refractive error, generally addressed with corrective lenses—eyeglasses or contact lenses.
In those with astigmatism, it may improve distance or near vision because of the horizontal nature of squinting. For a short time, squinting may decrease vision distortion related to astigmatism. Presbyopia, a common condition among those over 40, is the deterioration of near vision over time.
Your glasses will correct your vision right away, but your brain needs time to adjust to seeing things differently. Most people take a few days to two weeks to get used to their astigmatism glasses.
The same study found that it is particularly prevalent among very young children, with 23 percent of children between the ages of 6 months and 1 year old having astigmatism. But many grow out of it. By the times children are 5 to 6 years old, only 9 percent had astigmatism.
Most people who have astigmatism are born with it. Others develop it as their eyes grow and change throughout their lives. If you have astigmatism or another type of refractive error, there's a chance your children might as well.
Adolescents with ASD had significantly higher adjusted odds of both myopia and astigmatism compared with peers who did not have ASD. The relative odds of refractive error in ASD increased with both myopia severity and astigmatism cylinder power.
If you don't correct astigmatism, you'll likely experience continually blurred vision, eyestrain, headaches, poor night vision, and constant squinting.
In addition, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing any underlying health conditions can also help prevent the development or progression of astigmatism. Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, staying hydrated, and managing chronic conditions like diabetes can all contribute to overall eye health.
Glasses or soft contacts can usually correct regular astigmatism to 20/20, but if it is a high degree of astigmatism, the eye may not be correctable to 20/20.
When you have astigmatism, you should avoid eye rubbing, prolonged digital screen time without breaks, neglecting corrective lenses, poor contact lens hygiene, and driving at night if it causes significant glare/blur, as these activities strain eyes, worsen symptoms like blur and headaches, and can damage the cornea. Focus on regular eye exams, proper lens care, and taking breaks to manage the condition effectively.
When you have astigmatism, it doesn't matter how wide your eyes open — your vision will still be blurry. In fact, when your pupils widen and allow more light in, the elongated shape of the cornea can make blurriness worse.
Long periods of screen time can make your eyes tired and cause headaches. The 20-20-20 rule is an easy way to keep that from happening: Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. And blink often to keep your eyes moist. At the office, anti-glare protection on your computer screen can help, too.
Unlike astigmatism, keratoconus typically develops in teenagers or young adults and tends to worsen over time. It can cause increased light sensitivity, glare, and even double vision. While it might initially mimic severe astigmatism, the progressive nature and the corneal deformation distinguish it.
Rubbing your eyes is one habit that could cause astigmatism. In fact, frequent rubbing could eventually change the shape of your corneas. Rubbing also increases your risk of keratoconus, a condition that makes the corneas thin and cone-shaped.
Astigmatism, a refractive error in which visual images do not evenly focus on the retina, modulates visual perception, and the accompanying neural processes in the brain.
Whether glasses for astigmatism should be worn continuously depends on the individual's level of astigmatism and personal comfort. Some may need to wear them all the time for optimal vision, while others might only require them for specific tasks, such as reading or computer work.
Symptoms
Unlike myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), which affect only one's ability to see things close up or far away, astigmatism causes both near and far vision to suffer, leading to all-around blurred or streaked vision.