Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat You SeeComplicationsDiagnosisCorrectionCausesWhere to Get an Eye Exam
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What You See
Complications
Diagnosis
Correction
Causes
Where to Get an Eye Exam
If you haveastigmatism, your vision may be blurry and distorted instead of sharp and crisp. In astigmatism, thecornea(the clear dome that covers your eye) or the lens (which focuses light rays on the light-sensitiveretina) is abnormally shaped.
Wearing contact lenses or glasses that refocus light rays where they should be can enable you to see as clearly as possible. An eye specialist, usually an ophthalmologist or optometrist, will examine your eye, assess your vision, and take the necessary measurements for corrective lenses.
This article covers astigmatism affects what you see, what happens if it worsens, what symptoms to watch for, why you may develop it, and more.
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Astigmatism: What Do People See
With astigmatism, many things appear out of focus. While many people have this condition to some degree, it can affect some more severely than others.
Living with astigmatismcan be confounding, with blurry vision at both near and far distances. In some cases, straight lines may appear wavy or distorted. Also, lights at night may streak out from the source, with annoying streamers appearing around oncoming headlights or emanating from street lamps.
Terms to KnowAll astigmatism is not the same. There are two main types:Horizontal astigmatismoccurs when the eye is shaped like a horizontal oval, wider than tall.Vertical astigmatismoccurs when the eye is shaped like a vertical oval, taller from top to bottom than from side to side.Your astigmatism may also be combined with other refractive errors, such asnearsightedness or farsightedness. So, you can be nearsighted (have trouble seeing clearly at a distance without correction) and have astigmatism. Or, you may be farsighted, typically with difficulty seeing up close, and have astigmatism.
Terms to Know
All astigmatism is not the same. There are two main types:Horizontal astigmatismoccurs when the eye is shaped like a horizontal oval, wider than tall.Vertical astigmatismoccurs when the eye is shaped like a vertical oval, taller from top to bottom than from side to side.Your astigmatism may also be combined with other refractive errors, such asnearsightedness or farsightedness. So, you can be nearsighted (have trouble seeing clearly at a distance without correction) and have astigmatism. Or, you may be farsighted, typically with difficulty seeing up close, and have astigmatism.
All astigmatism is not the same. There are two main types:
Your astigmatism may also be combined with other refractive errors, such asnearsightedness or farsightedness. So, you can be nearsighted (have trouble seeing clearly at a distance without correction) and have astigmatism. Or, you may be farsighted, typically with difficulty seeing up close, and have astigmatism.
Astigmatism That Gets Worse
If astigmatism is mild enough, you may only have slightly blurry vision. But if it gets worse, other symptoms may begin to arise, such as the following:
Also, those with worsening astigmatism only in one eye may develop refractiveamblyopia, which has also been dubbed “lazy eye.”
Uncorrected astigmatism is one cause of refractive amblyopia in children.The brain begins favoring the clearer images from the eye without astigmatism and starts to ignore the weaker eye with it, preventing the child’s vision from developing properly.
Amblyopia can also happen when both eyes have a similar amount of moderate, uncorrected astigmatism, known as isometric amblyopia.
Signs that a child may be developing amblyopia from astigmatism may include:
If a child’s amblyopia is not treated, normal vision may never develop. To avoid this, see an eye care provider who can correct the astigmatism and treat any amblyopia.
High amounts of astigmatism or advancing astigmatism can be a sign of keratoconus. In keratoconus, the cornea bulges into a cone shape rather than being a round dome.
Astigmatism Test: How to Know If You Have Symptoms
Determining if you have astigmatism means a trip to an ophthalmologist or optometrist. As part of anastigmatism diagnosis, you may expect to undergo acomprehensive eye exam, which involves the following:
How to Correct Astigmatism
Astigmatism can be corrected in variety of different ways. Here are some of the options:
Before Glasses or Contacts
No treatment may be necessary for mild astigmatism. Your eye specialist will help you determine if some correction, perhaps with glasses or contact lenses, is needed.
Glasses
You may be given glasses to correct astigmatism; if you already have glasses, a correction can be made to the lenses' prescription. This will ensure that the light strikes the retina in the correct place. But if you have a very large degree of astigmatism or keratoconus, glasses may be unable to correct it fully.
Contact Lenses
With mild astigmatism, traditional rigid gas-permeable or soft contact lenses can be used for correction.
Toric contact lenses, which may be rigid or soft, are needed for moderate astigmatism. They are designed to compensate for the irregular shape of the cornea. They must sit in the correct position on the eye’s surface, which is often accomplished with weights added to the lens.
Surgery
Laser surgery for astigmatismcan include any of the following procedures:
Why Some People Have Astigmatism
If you are diagnosed with astigmatism, you may wonder how it developed, but what causes astigmatism is unclear. However, factors that may predispose you to astigmatism include:
Anyone who suspects they have astigmatism should seek a comprehensive eye exam from an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. If you do not have an eye specialist, ask those you know for a recommendation. A satisfied former patient can be a great source for finding an eye specialist you like.
Summary
Those with astigmatism may have trouble with blurry or distorted vision due to issues with the cornea or lens of the eye. This may lead to eye strain, headaches, and difficulty driving at night. If this is severe enough and not treated, it may lead to amblyopia, where vision doesn’t develop properly.
Treatment options for astigmatism include glasses or contacts. For appropriate candidates, surgical correction may also be an option.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Astigmatism.NVISION.How do you see the world if you have astigmatism.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is astigmatism? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Types of amblyopia.Mount Sinai.Astigmatism.NHS.Astigmatism.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can glasses fully correct my astigmatism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Which is better for astigmatism – glasses or contacts?Nvision.Is there a cure for astigmatism?UVA Health.Astigmatism.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Astigmatism.NVISION.How do you see the world if you have astigmatism.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is astigmatism? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Types of amblyopia.Mount Sinai.Astigmatism.NHS.Astigmatism.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can glasses fully correct my astigmatism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Which is better for astigmatism – glasses or contacts?Nvision.Is there a cure for astigmatism?UVA Health.Astigmatism.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eye Institute.Astigmatism.NVISION.How do you see the world if you have astigmatism.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is astigmatism? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Types of amblyopia.Mount Sinai.Astigmatism.NHS.Astigmatism.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can glasses fully correct my astigmatism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Which is better for astigmatism – glasses or contacts?Nvision.Is there a cure for astigmatism?UVA Health.Astigmatism.
National Eye Institute.Astigmatism.
NVISION.How do you see the world if you have astigmatism.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is astigmatism? Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Types of amblyopia.
Mount Sinai.Astigmatism.
NHS.Astigmatism.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can glasses fully correct my astigmatism?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Which is better for astigmatism – glasses or contacts?
Nvision.Is there a cure for astigmatism?
UVA Health.Astigmatism.
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