The Stigmas of Astigmatism

Despite the fact that it is fairly common as we get older, patients are often intimidated by the fact that they are diagnosed with astigmatism . So let’s talk about the facts, the myths and solutions for astigmatism.

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What Is Astigmatism?

To put it simply, patients with astigmatism have eyes that are not perfectly round because the cornea (or lens) is cone shape. For instance, rather than having an eye shaped like a golf ball, their eye(s) are shaped more like a football. This change in shape causes the light to enter the cornea and focus differently when it hits the retina and causes their vision to be blurry.

Many people think that astigmatism is a disease, this is not the case. It is simply a type of prescription just like being nearsighted or farsighted.

If you look at your prescription the cylinder and axis indicate if you have astigmatism. If you do not have astigmatism this part of your prescription will be blank or will have the letters ‘sph’ which means that you only have the sphere component in your prescription.

Do I Have Astigmatism?

The only way to be 100% sure that you have Astigmatism is to see your Optometrist and get your prescription checked. However, there are a few ways to know if it’s time to book an appointment.

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  • Do you have blurry vision?

  • Do you have eye strain or headaches?

  • Do lights or objects seem “far off” or wavy? (Distorted Vision)

  • Do you experience discomfort when you are reading, either on a computer or in print?

  • Do you noticed starbursts around lights when driving at night, especially if it’s raining?

If you are noticing any of these symptoms it is time to schedule an appointment with us.

Teri Hines