Astigmatism

Ideally, the surface of the cornea is uniformly rounded, like the smooth, even surface of a ball. Vision becomes distorted when the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature, rounded more like the back of a spoon than the surface of a ball. This type of irregularity causes light to focus on more than one spot on the back of the eye, causing blurred vision. Have you ever looked through a pane glass that has an irregular, somewhat wavy surface? That uneven surface allows only one part of the view to be in good focus—the rest is blurred and wavy-looking.

The most common symptoms of astigmatism are:

• Blurry vision
• Needing to squint to see clearly
• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Trouble seeing at night

If you have mild astigmatism, you might not notice any symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get regular eye exams — your eye doctor can help you make sure you’re seeing as clearly as possible. This is especially true for children, who may be less likely to realize that their vision isn’t normal.

Eye doctors can check for astigmatism as part of a dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless.

The most common treatments for astigmatism are eyeglasses or contact lenses. Your eye doctor will prescribe the right lenses to help you see as clearly as possible.

Doctors can also use surgery to treat astigmatism. The surgery changes the shape of your cornea so that it can focus light correctly.

If your astigmatism is mild, you may not need treatment. Your eye doctor can help you figure out if you need to get treated, and what type of treatment is best for you.

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