Astigmatism is a common eye condition in which your lens, or cornea, in particular, is not shaped the way it is supposed to. Your eyeball has the shape of a perfectly round object.
Light comes in through your eyeball and gets refracted precisely, giving you a clear view. However, in the case of astigmatism, light does not bend evenly due to the shape being distorted. This results in blurry vision or an improper focus. Astigmatism is one of the three common refractive eye conditions; the other two are myopia (farsightedness) and hyperopia (nearsightedness). These conditions occur when your eyes are not refracting light rays the way they are supposed to. In terms of Astigmatism, the causes may be hereditary.
What are the causes of Astigmatism?
You might have heard a lot about watching too much TV or using your phone in dim light leads to Astigmatism. The reality is far from the truth. Astigmatism is mostly an eye condition that people are born with. The most common cause of this condition is genetics. Scientists have not entirely been able to figure out the core cause of Astigmatism. However, one can also suffer from Astigmatism due to an eye injury, extreme cases of near or farsightedness, or the aftermath of eye surgery. These are some common causes that may lead a person to experience Astigmatism. As for its types, it has two main types, corneal and lenticular. Corneal Astigmatism occurs due to the shape of the cornea getting distorted. Whereas Lenticular Astigmatism is experienced due to the misshaping of the lens.
What are the symptoms of Astigmatism?
It may be difficult for an average person to know whether they have astigmatism or not. The common symptoms may differ from person to person. Therefore, it is advised to see your doctor once these symptoms do not go away in a day or two. The symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Blurry vision
- Distorted lights
- Eyestrain
- Inability to focus on an object.
- Headache
If the above-mentioned symptoms remain for more than 3 days, it is necessary to get an eye check-up as soon as possible.
How is Astigmatism treated?
Astigmatism does not happen overnight. It takes its time to show up. The earlier you find that you have this condition, the better treatment options you get. Firstly, you will need a complete eye check-up by your optometrist. There are several methods used by eye doctors to determine whether Astigmatism is apparent or not. The examination is an important procedure that comes before treatment. Your doctor checks how much of your eyeball is misshapen then treats it accordingly. In unfortunate cases of luck not being on your side, you will have to get surgery. But this only happens if your condition is severe. In the starting stages of Astigmatism, it can be treated through corrective lenses.
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent Astigmatism from occurring. People who experience it mostly get it from their family. Your best bet at battling astigmatism is to get an eye check-up before it gets worse. Through a simple corrective lens prescription, your eyes will get their old sight back.