Astigmatism
Light rays focus on 2 different axes
What exactly is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common refractive error of the eye. In astigmatism, the cornea (the front part of the eye) is elliptical (oval – shaped) with asymmetrical curvatures rather than being spherical. As a result, light rays do not focus at a single point on the retina, as they should in a normal eye (emmetropia), but rather at two different axes (resulting in two perpendicular images). Astigmatism can be either regular or irregular and often coexists with myopia (myopic astigmatism) or hyperopia (hyperopic astigmatism).
What are the main symptoms of astigmatism?
An individual with astigmatism actually sees distorted, skewed, and blurred objects with low clarity. Additionally, astigmatism can cause rapid eye fatigue, a feeling of heaviness around the eyes, headaches, and migraines during daily activities such as driving, reading, or working on a computer or tablet.
What are the causes of astigmatism?
The cornea has two axes called meridians. Astigmatism occurs when there is a significant difference in curvature – convexity between these two corneal meridians. Essentially, the cornea has an oval shape instead of a spherical one. The greater the deviation between the corneal meridians, the higher the degree of astigmatism (diopters). Astigmatism is sometimes associated with a condition called keratoconus or may result from ocular trauma.
What are the treatment options for astigmatism?
Astigmatism can be managed using one of the following methods:
Use of vision glasses
Application of contact lenses
Surgical implantation of a toric intraocular lens (IOL)
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