Astigmatism occurs when a part of the eye has an irregular shape rather than smooth and symmetrical. The result of such an irregularity is that light entering the eye isn’t reflected as it should, which causes objects both near and far to appear fuzzy or blurred. Fortunately, once diagnosed by an optometrist, the vision issues created by astigmatism can be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Here are five facts about this eye condition you should know.
1. You should visit an optometrist if you experience astigmatism symptoms
It’s important to get your eyes examined by an optometrist or eye doctor if you experience vision problems that make it difficult to perform your daily tasks. Be on the lookout for these symptoms of astigmatism:
Headaches
Blurred vision
Poor depth perception
Poor night vision
Squinting
Double vision
2. There’s more than one kind of astigmatism Since astigmatism can occur in either the cornea or lens of your eye, there are both corneal and lenticular astigmatisms. If you find out from your optometrist or ophthalmologist that one or both of your eyes is astigmatic, you may want to ask them which kind you have. However, it won’t matter when filling your prescription. 3. Advances in contact-lens technology make it easier to wear contacts Until toric soft lenses were introduced in the late 1970s, rigid-gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses were the only type of lens that could correct astigmatism. However, toric lenses are much more comfortable than RGP lenses and don’t shift out of place. 4. Laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism in some people This procedure involves using ultra-precise lasers to correct the asymmetrical curvature of the cornea to effectively correct the vision problems caused by this condition. However, if your refractive error is too irregular, you may not be a good candidate for this procedure. 5. Your everyday behaviours won’t cause astigmatism Contrary to what some people think, you can’t get astigmatism from sitting too close to the TV or reading in low light. Although astigmatism can be caused by injuries or eye diseases, most people are born with this condition. The Importance of an Optometrist The best way to ensure you don’t suffer from any vision problems is to schedule regular visits with your optometrist. This professional will diagnose whether you have astigmatism and provide you with options to correct it if you do. Optometrists’ Clinic Inc. has been helping people see since 1938. With five locations conveniently located in the Greater Edmonton Area, our highly trained personnel are available to help you correct your vision. To make an appointment, contact a location near you.