What is it?
Astigmatism occurs when the front end section of the eye, known as cornea, isn’t a uniform symmetrical moonlike shape. Alternatively, its form is sort of similar to that of the back of a spoon - longer in one direction than another. Because the cornea is an uneven form, the eye can’t focus light passing through it sharply on to the back of the eye or retina. So vision is smudged at all distances.
What causes it?
As the eye originates in the womb, several components influence the configuration of it, including transmitted genetic factors and environment. It would seem that these factors can lead to an ragged curve of the cornea, although the exact cause isn’t known.
Who’s affected?
Actually most of us have an astigmatism - but generally it is very mild
Astigmatism is common and is normally present when a individual is born. Most people have a slender astigmatism - it’s exceptional for the cornea to have developed in a utterly symmetrical way. But in mild cases, the eye can adjust to focus light adequately.
In many instances of astigmatism the individual also has accompanied visual troubles like short-sightedness or long-sightedness. Two-thirds of people with short-sightedness also have significant astigmatism.
What are the symptoms?
In severe astigmatism, vision is fuzzy or distorted whether the individual is reading close up or looking further into the distance.
In milder cases the individual may complain their vision is blurred at certain distances, that they’ve tired or dry eyes, that it’s a struggle to focus or read, or that they’ve headaches, especially when trying to focus.
How is it diagnosed?
Astigmatism should be diagnosed by a registered optometrist, ophthalmic surgeon or eye specialist. A thorough optometric examination should be done to assess the degree and extent of the problem.
Tiny children, who may not be able to deal with the optometrist’s enquiries about what they can see, can be assessed using a test called retinoscopy that involves reflected light.
What’s the treatment?
Most of the time, you can adequately deal with an astigmatism by using properly prescribed specs or contact lenses.
If the astigmatism isn’t too bad, it may not require treatment at all - unless of course it is critical to your work that you have perfect vision or that you are likely to tire, in which case a mild astigmatism may become more of a problem.
In some cases, astigmatism can be corrected by an operation called refractive surgery, which reshapes the cornea.
Some may choose laser surgery. You should discuss the benefits and risks of this treatment with your surgeon before you go decide whether to have it.
