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Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an optical defect that interferes with the eye’s ability to focus sharply, so it can result in unclear vision. It occurs when the shape of the cornea (the clear focusing surface that overlies the colored iris) is not perfectly round like a marble, but shaped oval like a spoon. Almost everyone is born with some astigmatism, though the amount may be so small that it isn’t important.

Heredity is the most common cause of astigmatism. It does not come from reading or using your eyes “too much” or reading in dim light.

What is it Like to have Astigmatism?

Astigmatic images are never sharp and crisp, either close-up or in the distance. If you have a large amount of astigmatism, your vision may be very blurred. Straight lines running in one direction may be more blurred than lines running in another direction. For example, only the vertical edges of a window may appear out-of -focus. As you try to overcome the blur and see more clearly, you might get a headache from continually contracting the muscles around your eyes and furrowing your brows—actions that may be so automatic that you are not even aware of them.

How is Astigmatism Corrected?

Astigmatism can be optically corrected and vision sharpened by prescription eyeglasses. A small amount of people may require no correction if it does not affect their vision or cause eyestrain and headaches. Glasses can also reduce the ocular “pulling,” dizziness, or difficulty with continued reading. At first, the glasses can make objects look a bit tilted or distorted, but this should disappear after you get acclimated to them.

Rigid, gas permeable contact lenses can also be used to correct astigmatism. Soft lenses cannot be used, unless they are special “toric” lenses that are made to compensate for the astigmatic shape of the corneas.

The amount of time you wear your correction eyeglasses will not have any effect on the basic astigmatism or its development—that is, wearing glasses or contacts will neither worsen nor better the astigmatism.