Astigmatism happens when the cornea or lens has an irregular, football-like shape instead of a perfectly round one, causing blurred or distorted vision at all distances. It’s very common and correctable through glasses, toric contact lenses, or a permanent option like LASIK, depending on your degree of astigmatism and personal preference.
Astigmatism is one of the most common vision conditions, and understanding what’s actually happening in your eye can make the range of correction options feel a lot less confusing.
What Astigmatism Actually Is
An astigmatic cornea is shaped more like a football than a basketball.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or the eye’s natural lens has an irregular shape rather than a perfectly spherical one. Instead of curving evenly in every direction, an astigmatic cornea is steeper along one meridian than another, which prevents light from focusing to a single point on the retina and causes blurred or distorted vision.
Common Symptoms
Astigmatism typically causes blurred or distorted vision at all distances, not just up close or far away, along with eye strain, headaches, squinting, and difficulty with night driving due to glare or halos around lights. Many people live with mild astigmatism for years without realizing it’s the cause of their visual discomfort.
Correcting Astigmatism With Glasses or Contacts
Eyeglasses and toric contact lenses correct astigmatism by using a lens curved in the opposite way from your cornea’s irregular shape, effectively cancelling the distortion. This approach works well for the majority of astigmatism cases and doesn’t require any surgical procedure, though it does mean an ongoing dependence on glasses or contacts.
Correcting Astigmatism Permanently With LASIK
LASIK can permanently correct astigmatism by reshaping the cornea itself, so light focuses properly on the retina without the need for external correction. Many patients with astigmatism, including moderate to higher degrees, are good LASIK candidates, and satisfaction rates for astigmatism correction with LASIK are generally high.
Other Surgical Options
For patients who aren’t LASIK candidates or who have other vision goals, options like PRK or, for older patients, refractive lens exchange with a toric intraocular lens can also correct astigmatism as part of a broader vision correction plan. Which option makes sense depends on your degree of astigmatism, corneal thickness, and overall eye health.
Figuring Out What’s Right for You
A comprehensive eye exam, including precise corneal mapping, is the only way to determine your degree of astigmatism and which correction option fits your eyes and lifestyle best.
If you’re dealing with symptoms of astigmatism and want to explore your options, from glasses to LASIK, Anaheim Eye Institute can help you find the right fit.
Have questions about your vision or ready to explore your options? Book an Appointment or call 714.533.2020.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk to your eye doctor about your specific astigmatism correction options.
FAQ
What causes astigmatism? Astigmatism is caused by an irregular, non-spherical shape of the cornea or the eye’s natural lens, which prevents light from focusing to a single point on the retina.
What are the common symptoms of astigmatism? Blurred or distorted vision at all distances, eye strain, headaches, squinting, and difficulty with night driving are common symptoms.
Can LASIK fix astigmatism permanently? Yes, LASIK can permanently correct astigmatism by reshaping the cornea itself, and many patients with moderate to higher degrees of astigmatism are excellent candidates.
Do glasses and contacts permanently fix astigmatism? No, glasses and toric contact lenses correct vision by compensating for the cornea’s shape, but they don’t permanently alter the cornea, so correction is needed continuously.
How do I know how much astigmatism I have? A comprehensive eye exam with precise corneal mapping is the only reliable way to determine your degree of astigmatism and the best correction option for you.
