What is Astigmatism

What is Astigmatism

What is Astigmatism

Woman's Eye

Astigmatism is an issue that most people have heard of, but very few people actually know much about it.

 

Understanding Astigmatism

Your eye is made up of a bunch of different parts that can affect how light and images enter your eye and can be translated by your brain. Your cornea is generally designed to be smooth and curved equally in all directions. This helps to ensure that the light entering your eye from a number of different angles can be properly focused when it reaches the back of your eye. Astigmatism is when the cornea is not spherical in shape.

 

If there is any deformity of the lens or cornea, it can alter the focal point or specific areas of your vision that are not focused properly. We refer to this issue as a refractive error.

 

There are two different types of astigmatism, corneal astigmatism, and lenticular astigmatism. Corneal astigmatism refers to an issue caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.

 

Lenticular astigmatism means that there is an issue with the shape of your lens. In both cases, the likely issue that you will face is that objects that are near or far away can appear distorted. Many people describe this as looking into a funhouse mirror where objects are distorted, so it appears they are too long, short, thin, or wide.

 

In addition to astigmatism, many of these patients also suffer from other vision issues, such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).

 

Identifying Astigmatism

Many adults can recognize when they are having issues with their vision appearing blurry or distorted. In these cases, patients can quickly identify the issue and schedule an appointment with Clarke EyeCare Center to make sure they get corrective lenses.

 

In contrast, children are much more unlikely to complain about problems with their vision. Instead, they often assume that blurry vision must be how everybody else sees the world too. As parents, we can help identify when children may be having trouble with their sight. Sometimes children can sit too close to objects to help them see, or they may strain to see objects that are closer or further away. You may notice that they try to change their distance from books so that they can see objects more clearly. If you notice any of these issues, you should contact our office today.

 

Causes of Astigmatism

Astigmatism is generally referred to as just the irregular shape of the cornea or lens. Doctors do not specifically know why this happens in patients or why it can be different from person to person. However, it does appear to be linked through genetics.

 

Overview

One of the best things that you can do to help correct the issues associated with astigmatism is to schedule an appointment with Clarke EyeCare Center today. Our experienced staff can help identify the issues you are facing and give you the best treatment options available.