Astigmatism, it's a word that might sound intimidating or confusing, but it's actually a pretty common eye condition. If you're curious about what it is and how it affects your vision, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about astigmatism, from the symptoms and causes to the different types of corrective lenses available. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into the world of astigmatism!
Astigmatism is a condition that can make your vision appear blurry or distorted. It impairs how your eyes work together to form a clear image. While you may encounter similar issues between near or far sightedness and astigmatism, they are all different conditions with different causes and treatments. The difference between astigmatism and near (myopia) or far (hyperopia) sighted vision is the shape of the eye. Nearsighted vision is caused by an elongation of the eyeball, and farsightedness is caused by a shortened eyeball or flat cornea; when it comes to astigmatism, the physical distortion of the cornea (the outer layer of your eye) is that the shape is more akin to a football than a basketball. This causes light to focus unevenly on your retina; to get into the science of it, light is entering your eye and focusing on two spots of the retina rather than one leading to all kinds of vision problems such as the blurry vision i mentioned earlier or sometimes even double vision.
Now, there is not one cornea on this planet that is a perfect sphere (well, there might be but they are few and far between). Minor degrees of astigmatism are extremely common, and people may not even know that they have it because the distortion of the cornea is so small. However, more severe distortions of the cornea do need correction with glasses or contacts which easily correct the issue. Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, you may need lenses that are specially designed to correct the way light enters your eye.
The exact causes of astigmatism are unknown. Some people have tried to explain it way with things like sitting too close to a TV or reading in dim light, but it's important to know that these things are not directly linked as causes of astigmatism (however, they do put strain on your eyes and you should probably still avoid doing them).
Some factors that may lead to astigmatism are:
Eye injuries such as corneal scarring or trauma
Abnormal growth or development of the eye
Eye surgery
Keratoconus, a condition where the cornea thins and bulges outwards
Ageing, as we age the shape of our eye changes and one can sometimes develop astigmatism
Astigmatism Lights
If you've heard of astigmatism before, you may have heard the term "astigmatism lights" get tossed around. People with astigmatism see artificial lights differently than those who don't have the condition - it's one of the most telltale signs of the condition. If someone has had astigmatism since birth, they might not even know that they see lights differently from other people. When someone with astigmatism looks at artificial light sources , such as streetlights or headlights, they may see them as blurry, streaky, or encircled by light haloes. If you have astigmatism, these light distortions will be particularly noticeable at night. The irregular shape of their cornea prevents adequate light intake into the eyes and causes light to be unevenly refracted and, which leads to the distortion of light. People with astigmatism also tend to have to squint to focus or reduce the glare of light.
On the contrary, people without astigmatism typically see artificial light as a round and evenly shaped source. Their spherical cornea allows light to smoothly pass through the retina and generates a clear and sharp image. Artificial lights will appear the same way as bright sunlight, with less glare, and no light sensitivity.
Below is an example of what headlights lights might look like at night if you have astigmatism:
If you think you might have astigmatism, don't worry! It's a very common condition that affects many people. The important thing is to get a comprehensive eye exam to determine the best course of treatment for you - those might inlcude LASIK laser eye surgery or less invasive options such as eyeglasses and contacts.
Here are some of the options you might be eligible for if you have astigmatism
Contact lenses:
Toric lenses: These are special lenses designed to correct astigmatism. They have different powers in different meridians of the lens, which help to compensate for the irregular curvature of the cornea or lens.
Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP): These lenses are also known as hard lenses and can be used to correct astigmatism. They are made of a rigid material that allows them to maintain their shape, which can help to correct the irregular curvature of the cornea or lens.
Soft contact lenses: These lenses are made of a soft, flexible material and are available in toric designs that can correct astigmatism.
Hybrid lenses: These lenses combine the benefits of both RGP and soft contact lenses. They have a rigid center and a soft outer ring, which can help to correct astigmatism while providing the comfort of soft lenses.
If you're not so hot on contact lenses, prescription glasses with special astigmatism-correcting lenses can also be used to correct astigmatism. These lenses have a special curvature that can help to compensate for the irregular curvature of the cornea or lens. At KITS you can find all of these contact lens and eyeglasses options and more at amazing prices - click here to get started on your eye health journey!
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