August 2025 Newsletter: Astigmatism

Astigmatism: A Clear Overview

If your vision seems slightly off, making objects appear stretched, blurry, or difficult to bring into sharp focus, you might be experiencing astigmatism. Many people dismiss these symptoms as simple eye strain or a minor change in their prescription, but astigmatism is actually one of the most common vision conditions. There's no need for concern. It's simply a matter of the eye's shape.

In a perfectly shaped eye, the cornea (the clear front surface) and the internal lens are smoothly rounded like a sphere. With astigmatism, the cornea or lens is shaped more like a football, causing it to curve more steeply in one direction than the other. This irregular shape bends incoming light unevenly, preventing it from focusing properly on the retina. This is why text on a page might appear shadowed or double, and why headlights at night can glare and streak.

Who Is Affected?

Astigmatism can affect anyone, from children to adults. It is often present from birth and can also be hereditary. While many are born with it, astigmatism can also develop later in life, emerge after an eye injury or surgery, or be associated with another condition called keratoconus, which causes a more irregular corneal shape.

Understanding the Different Types

Eye care professionals generally categorize astigmatism into a few key types:

• Corneal Astigmatism: This is the most common form, caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.

• Lenticular Astigmatism: This type originates from an irregularly shaped lens inside the eye.

• Regular Astigmatism: The principal curves of the eye are uneven but symmetrical, making it the most common and easily correctable type.

• Irregular Astigmatism: This less common form involves scattered, non-symmetrical curves, often resulting from an injury, scarring, or keratoconus.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some experience only a mild, overall blurriness, while others struggle more with night vision, experience frequent headaches after reading, or find themselves constantly squinting to see clearly. While color vision remains normal, the overall sharpness and definition of objects are compromised.

How It's Diagnosed

Diagnosing astigmatism is a quick and painless process during a comprehensive eye exam. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform a standard visual acuity test (reading the eye chart), a refraction test to determine your exact prescription, and may use a tool called a keratometer to precisely measure the curvature of your cornea.

Treatment and Correction

Astigmatism is very easy to treat. The simplest solution is a pair of prescription eyeglasses. For those who prefer contacts, specially designed toric soft lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses can effectively correct the vision. For a permanent solution, laser eye surgery procedures like LASIK or PRK can reshape the cornea to correct its curvature.

Is Prevention Possible?

There is no known way to prevent astigmatism, especially if it is genetic. However, you can protect your overall eye health by scheduling regular comprehensive eye exams, taking breaks during prolonged screen use, maintaining a healthy diet rich in eye-friendly nutrients, wearing sunglasses to block UV rays, and using protective eyewear during sports or hazardous work.

While the term might sound complex, astigmatism is a straightforward and highly manageable condition. It's a routine issue that millions of people correct for every day. If you've noticed yourself squinting more often or your vision lacks its usual clarity, scheduling an eye exam is the best next step. The solution could be as simple as a new glasses prescription.