What Is Astigmatism?

A very common eye problem

If you are diagnosed with astigmatism, you are not alone - many Australians have this common eye problem. In fact, most people have some form of astigmatism, it just isn’t bad enough to need correction. Find out more about it below.

What is astigmatism?

Don’t be alarmed when you hear this fancy word, it is a very common eye problem. Astigmatism causes your vision to be out of focus. Depending on the severity, it can result in very minimal distortion or be much worse.

Astigmatism is caused when the front surface of your eye has an abnormal curvature. Instead of being perfectly round, it is slightly curved to be more like a rugby ball shape. This means that as light enters the eye it becomes scattered, resulting in blurred vision.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

People with astigmatism often have difficulty differentiating between similar characters such as Q and O or B and 8. Poor night vision is also common in those with astigmatism.

As a side effect of astigmatism, you may get headaches, eyestrain and fatigue if your vision isn’t corrected.

How is astigmatism diagnosed?

Astigmatism is diagnosed by an optometrist. When you visit your Toowoomba optometrist for an eye exam, they will do a variety of tests to look for astigmatism, as well as a number of other eye problems. They will look into the back of your eyes and ask you to read from charts, among other things.

How is astigmatism treated?

Fortunately, astigmatism is in most cases very easily fixed using corrective lenses. In the past, those with astigmatism weren’t able to wear contact lenses due to the irregular shape of their eyes, however scientists have now developed contact lenses for astigmatism. This means you have a huge range of glasses and contact lenses to choose from to make your vision clearer.

Always visit your Toowoomba optometrist at least every two years to ensure your eyes are healthy.