Astigmatism is a refractive error that affects one’s eyes. Refractive deficiencies include
nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and presbyopia, which develops as people
age.
Refractive mistakes happen all the time. Refractive error affects more than 150 million people in
the United States, according to the National Eye Institute. According to research, astigmatism is
the most common kind of refractive error in both children and adults.
We’ll go through the indications and symptoms of astigmatism in this piece, as well as how eye
doctors can help.
Symptoms
symptoms of Astigmatism are characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
● The vision that is blurry or distorted at all distances
● headaches squinting to see clearly eyestrain, particularly when the eye must focus for
lengthy periods of time difficulties seeing or driving at night
● Although a person with these symptoms may not have astigmatism, an eye exam is
recommended to rule it out.
Types
There are many types of Astigmatism. Astigmatism comes in a variety of forms, including:
● Astigmatism of the cornea: This is the most prevalent type of astigmatism.
● Astigmatism caused by changes in the lens of the eye is known as lenticular astigmatism.
● Irregular astigmatism occurs when the cornea’s curvature is irregular.
Astigmatism can be caused by myopia, hyperopia, or a combination of the two:
● When astigmatism and myopia combine, the two curves in the cornea or lens — the
curves from top to bottom and side to side — are focused in front of the retina, resulting
in myopic astigmatism.
● When hyperopia and astigmatism merge, the two curves are focused behind the retina,
resulting in hyperopic astigmatism.
● Mixed astigmatism occurs when one curve creates hyperopia symptoms while the other
produces myopia symptoms.
Astigmatism can be either regular or irregular in nature:
Astigmatism on a regular basis
The two curves are at a 90-degree angle to each other and the curvature of each is uniform if
astigmatism is regular.
Astigmatism with irregularities
In irregular astigmatism, the two curves do not meet at a 90-degree angle, and their curvature is
not uniform or even. Irregular astigmatism can be caused by trauma, surgery, keratoconus, or
corneal thinning.
Causes
causes of Astigmatism are when the cornea, lens, or both have an uneven curvature.
The cornea is a transparent tissue layer that covers the eye’s front surface. It focuses light and
transmits it to the back of the eye.
The cornea of a person with astigmatism is often egg- or football-shaped, and curves differently
from top to bottom than it does from side to side, rather than being perfectly round. As a result,
rather than focusing on one spot on the retina, the light will focus on two, resulting in blurry
vision and, in some circumstances, double vision.
It’s unclear why some people are born with a cornea that is wrongly bent, but there may be a
genetic component. Astigmatism is more common in premature babies than in those born closer
to their due date.
Some types of surgery or eye damage that results in corneal scarring might create irregular
astigmatism. Another cause of astigmatism irregularity is keratoconus. As a result of this
degenerative eye condition, the cornea thins and takes on a more conical shape.
An irregularly shaped lens in the eye is the most common cause of lenticular astigmatism.
Diagnosis
Astigmatism must be detected and treated as soon as possible.
When evaluating the eyes, an eye specialist may employ the following methods:
● A visual acuity test assesses a person’s ability to read letters or characters from a distance.
It usually entails reading a chart’s lines of letters. On each line, the letters get smaller and
smaller.
● Keratometry: A keratometer is a device that measures how much light is reflected from
the surface of the cornea. This provides an eye doctor with information about the shape
and curvature of the cornea.
● Corneal topography is an imaging technique that takes measurements and images of the
cornea. This provides a far more detailed assessment than keratometry.
● Refraction is a test that determines how the eyes concentrate light by putting a series of
lenses in front of the eyes. An eye doctor will inquire as to which lenses improve a
person’s vision.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends eye checkups for most children:
● every year after first grade starting at 6–12 months starting at 3–5 years before first grade
starting at 6–12 months starting at 3–5 years before first grade starting at 6–12 months
starting at
● Children who are at a high risk of developing astigmatism may benefit from more
frequent eye exams.
Adults should have their eyes examined every two years until they become 65, at which point
they should be examined once a year.
Adults with a higher risk of eye problems should see an eye doctor once a year, regardless of
age. This category includes people with a history of eye issues as well as individuals with
chronic disorders that can affect the eyes, such as diabetes.
Treatment
The ophthalmologist may not recommend treatment if the astigmatism is modest. Otherwise, the
most typical remedy is corrective glasses, however, some people prefer laser surgery.
Astigmatism corrective lenses
Corrective lenses can help with proper picture projection onto the retina. This can be done with
spectacles or contact lenses.
Astigmatism lenses will require:
● a cylinder lens power, to correct astigmatism, and a spherical power, to correct near or
far-sightedness
● an axis designation that describes astigmatism’s position
● To correct presbyopia, a person’s lenses will require greater, or added power.
Orthokeratology is a sort of corneal refractive therapy that is often referred to as corneal
refractive therapy.
Orthokeratology is a method of reshaping the cornea by sleeping with a rigid contact lens.
Although this does not improve vision permanently, it may improve vision for several hours after
it is used.
Surgery
Laser eye surgery may be an option for patients with astigmatism who want to correct their
vision. Laser in situ keratomileusis is the most prevalent technique (LASIK).
LASIK
During this procedure, the surgeon uses a keratome device or a femtosecond laser to form a thin
flap in the cornea. They then lift the flap and use a laser to reshape the shape of the cornea
beneath it. After that, the surgeon folds the flap back into place, enabling it to heal.
Dry eyes and vision alterations are frequent LASIK side effects, although they usually fade away
within a month, along with any other adverse effects.
Other laser options include photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser epithelial
keratomileusis (LASEK).
PRK
A piece of the cornea’s outer protective layer is removed during PRK. This can cause discomfort
ranging from mild to severe. The cornea is then reshaped using a laser to remove tissue. The
surgeon will place a bandage contact lens on the eye to manage pain during the healing process.
LASEK
The surgeon removes a tiny layer of tissue from the cornea during LASEK. After that, they
utilize a laser to alter the cornea’s shape before restoring the corneal tissue.
Who should stay away from laser surgery?
If you have any of the following conditions, laser eye surgery may not be right for you:
● has vision that is still changing,
● has significant astigmatism, and
● struggles to control diabetes
● is she pregnant or nursing a child
● has an immune system condition,
● such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or HIV,
Astigmatism develops when the cornea has an uneven shape, impairing vision in the affected eye
or eyes.
Astigmatism is a congenital disorder that affects a large number of people. Later in life, however,
it may occur as a result of an eye injury or past eye surgery.
Astigmatism is often treated with contact lenses or eyeglasses. Surgery is also a possibility for
individuals who qualify.
Many people with astigmatism aren’t aware they have it until they have an eye exam. As a result,
regular eye exams are essential for detecting and treating eye diseases.
Dr Kamdar Eye Hospital is dedicated to offering our patients professional high-quality services,
as well as a safer atmosphere, a better experience, and the certainty of living a lovely life with
refined eyesight.