Astigmatism is a common optic condition where the eye’s curvature leads to blurred vision. An eye doctor can diagnose this refractive error and prescribe appropriate treatment. Here’s a brief guide explaining what this entails.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea of the eye is egg-shaped instead of round. This difference causes vision issues because the light streaming through the lens can’t refract evenly onto the retina to produce a clear image. Only part of an object remains in focus.

While most people are born with the condition, others may develop it due to surgery, an eye disease, or an injury. For instance, keratoconus can lead to this issue by thinning out the cornea and making it more cone-shaped. 

Blurred or distorted vision, eyestrain, headaches, and difficulty seeing at night are typical. Astigmatism can also occur alongside other refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. 

Nearsightedness results from an overly curved cornea, which leads to light focusing in front of your retina instead of directly onto it. Conversely, farsightedness is due to a cornea with such slight curvature that light concentrates behind the retina.

How Is It Treated?

If you only have a slight astigmatism that doesn’t affect daily activities, your eye doctor may advise no treatment. However, they will most often recommend corrective glasses or contacts. While those with astigmatism may benefit from single vision lenses, another solution is bi- or trifocal lenses, which enable multiple corrections at once. This type may be suitable for those who have developed astigmatism and age-related farsightedness, for example.