Astigmatism

Description

Astigmatism is a refractive error in which light rays entering the eye do not focus onto a single point needed for clear vision. Instead, light focuses on two distinct points, neither of which may be on the retina. Where these images focus depends on whether the astigmatism is associated with myopia, or hyperopia. Astigmatism causes a distortion or blurring of images at all distances, nearby as well as distant.

Cause

Astigmatism occurs when the front surface of the eye has an irregular curvature. Normally, the cornea is equally curved in all directions. This gives the cornea a round shape, like a baseball. In astigmatism, the curve along one meridian is steeper than the curvature along the other. This causes the front surface of the cornea to be shaped more like a football.

Spectacle

Your doctor can prescribe spectacle corrective lenses to correct your astigmatic error. These lenses will bring the multiple focal points to a single focus onto the retina.

Contact Lens Correction

Contact lenses are another corrective option to move the focus of light back onto the retina. This corrective choice is both cosmetically pleasing and optically beneficial.

Lasik

The newest option for the correction of astigmatism is laser surgical correction. This new procedure reshapes the irregular corneal curvature. Resulting in multiple focal points being refocused onto the retina.