Astigmatism is a condition that involves our sense of vision.
This is primarily caused by the unnatural curvature of the cornea
of the lens of the eyes. Blurred vision is one of the most common symptoms experienced by people suffering from astigmatism.
People should bear in mind that astigmatism is not a disease-that which can be developed from bacterial or viral infection. It also does not mean that your eyes or overall health is in serious condition. As this is due to heredity, it is a condition that is passed through generations. There are cases where astigmatism develops as we age, or as a result of injury or disease.
An eye checkup can confirm the presence of astigmatism. It is a simple diagnostic procedure that quickly identifies the severity of
astigmatism. After diagnosis, eye doctors will then prescribe patients aids and devices that will help them clearly such as eye glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery.
Definition of Astigmatism
Clear vision or visual acuity as well as the ability to focus on an object both depend on the shape and condition of the cornea. When the shape of the outside corner of your eye does not feature a perfectly smooth curve, you will experience vision problems such as blurriness. The degree ofcurvature result in different levels of blurry vision- as some only experience mild, occasional blurry vision and some with severely blurredvision at all times.
Main Causes of Astigmatism
– Present at childbirth
– Develop as we age
– Genetics
– Eye disease
– Physical injury
Different Types of Astigmatism
Astigmatism is categorized into two namely:
- Regular
This astigmatism is characterized by the cornea as being curved only in one direction; either vertically or horizontally.
- Irregular
The cornea’s curvature is uneven across its entire surface.
Astigmatism Symptoms
– eye strain
– headaches
– easy fatigability
– blurry vision
People suffering from astigmatism suffer from inability focus at all
distances. This condition goes alongside either hyperopia
or long-sightedness or myopia or near-sightedness
Astigmatism Diagnosis
A routine eye checkup is the standard procedure when diagnosing
astigmatism. The series of exams include the following:
– exam to test how well the eyes can focus on light
– exam that identifies the extent of the corneas’ curvature
– vision examination
If you suspect any problems with you vision, it is recommend
ed that you seek medical advice from your optometrist.
Astigmatism in Children
It is imperative that parents have their children check for astigmatism. This is due to the fact that this eye condition may be potentially present from birth.
Medical Management and Treatment of Astigmatism
For those diagnosed with mild astigmatism, there may be
no need for treatment. People with severe astigmatism may need to seek treatment for better acuity and vision.
Possible treatments include the following:
– laser eye surgery which involves the reshaping of the corneas
– orthokertology, which involves the application of rigid contact lenses to effectively reshape the cornea
– corrective glasses or contact lenses
