Astigmatism is a very common vision condition. In fact, most people have a slight amount of astigmatism but it is not noticeable because it doesn’t affect their vision. The exact cause of astigmatism is not known, although it appears to have a hereditary component. Astigmatism can improve or become worse in people as they age. Sometimes eye surgery or an eye injury can cause astigmatism as well. Astigmatism occurs quite often with other vision conditions such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. All three conditions are referred to as “refractive errors,” because they affect the way the eye s bends or refracts the light.
Although the exact cause of astigmatism is not known, the condition is easy to diagnose. It can generally be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery for individual who choose to go that route.
Contact lenses for astigmatism are a better choice for some individuals. Astigmatism is a condition in which the cornea or the lens inside the eye is irregularly shaped. A normal cornea is symmetrically round. A baseball is a good example. The cornea that is afflicted with astigmatism is shaped more like a football. The second type of stigmatism is a condition in which the shape of the lens inside the eye is irregularly shaped. This is referred to as lenticular astigmatism. The more common type of stigmatism is referred to as corneal stigmatism.
The curvature of the cornea and lens causes the light entering the eye to bend. This allows the light to focus on the retina with clarity and precision. The irregular shape of the cornea or lens causes the light entering the lens or cornea to not focus properly. Astigmatism causes the light to focus on multiple points rather than a single point. The result is that the vision is out of focus. Depending upon the severity of the astigmatism, this can have detrimental effects on vision or it may not be noticeable.
The primary symptom of astigmatism is blurred or distorted vision. In addition to vision problems, a number of other symptoms of astigmatism may occur as well such as eyestrain and headaches. These types of symptoms may be more noticeable after long periods of visual concentration such as reading or watching a movie.
Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and laser surgery provide a few options for correcting astigmatism. Contact lenses work better than eyeglasses for some individuals with astigmatism. Contacts produce a wider field of view as well as better clarity.
Contact lenses come in different styles. If you are considering wearing contact lenses for astigmatism it is important to understand the different types of contact lenses. Soft contact lenses are malleable, making it possible for them to conform to the shape of the eye. This makes them less than ideal for correcting astigmatism. Toric soft contact lenses work better for some people with astigmatism. Gas permeable contact lenses are a third contact lens option. Gas permeable lenses maintain their shape and this counterbalances the irregular shape of the cornea.
There is also a non-invasive procedure called “othokeratology.” Specially designed contact lenses are worn for a period of time. The lenses gradually “reshape the curvature of the cornea. Optometrists will often recommend that patients suffering from keratoconus, a rare eye condition, wear contact lenses to correct vision.
