Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a refractive error of the eye. It occurs when light that enters the eye is not focused evenly onto the retina. Instead, the light is focused either in front of the retina or behind, resulting in vision that may be blurry for either near or far vision or, for all objects.
Causes of Astigmatism
The cause of astigmatism is not known. Astigmatism is known to be the result of the following:
- Heredity
- Cataract surgery
- Curvature of the cornea
- Length of the eye
- Distortion of the lens of the eye
Diagnosis of Astigmatism
The diagnosis of astigmatism is confirmed with a routine eye examination. If the patient is a child, a test that measures reflected light, known as a retinoscopy, is performed.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Astigmatism
The severity of symptoms may depend on the degree of astigmatism in the eyes. Some of the symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Headache
- Squinting
- Distorted or blurry vision
- Poor night vision
- Eye strain
- Inability to focus on fine details
Treatment
Treatment of Astigmatism
Once diagnosed, astigmatism can usually be corrected with either one of the following:
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Contact lenses
- Refractive surgery
