“You have astigmatism.” Is it an eye disease? Will I lose my eyesight? Can it be corrected? So, what is astigmatism? Fear not, this article will help spell out common misconceptions, and help shed some light on this eye condition.
What Is Astigmatism?
Having this eye condition, simply means the eye shape is irregular. Generally, the cornea is round. However, those who have astigmatism, have longer shaped corneas, like a football. This affects how the eye interprets light. It is comparable to other refractive error type eye conditions such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. The eye is not able to focus light optimally. So, you can stop worrying about having an eye disease!
So, how do you develop astigmatism? Well, many are just born with it. It can also be a result of an eye injury, or eye surgery. An eye disease can also be a contributor to the irregular eye shape.
Symptoms
Common symptoms patients experience are headaches, eye fatigue, eye strain, and or squinting. These symptoms are a result of the eye not being able to focus light on a single point on the cornea. Instead, light is focused on multiple spots. Patients, therefore, have trouble seeing at both close and far distances clearly. Some areas of sight appear blurry or wavy.
Diagnosis
A comprehensive eye exam can uncover this eye condition by your doctor of optometry. This why Dr. Sharma stresses the importance of not skipping your regular eye exam. If you see a change in your vision, like the symptoms discussed above, it is always important to seek medical advice from your optometrist.
Treatment Options
Like nearsightedness and farsightedness, this refractive error can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgery. The best treatment option should be discussed with your eye doctor after assessing your eye history.
Need more information about this eye condition? Give us a call or book an appointment online with Dr. Sharma.
We are your local Victoria eye doctors!