Should You Be Upset about Astimatism?
What is it?
Astigmatism takes place when the anterior region of the eye, technically referred to as the cornea, is not a uniform radial moonlike shape. Alternatively, its shape is sort of similar to that of the back of a spoon – longer in one manner than another. Because the cornea is an ragged shape, the eye cannot focus light passing through it sharply on to the back of the eye or retina. So vision is fuzzy at all distances.
What causes it?
During prenatal eye development, several components influence the configuration of it, including inheritable genetic factors and environment. It would seem that these elements can result in an ragged curve of the cornea, although the exact cause isn’t known.
Who’s affected?
Most people have a slight astigmatism
Astigmatism is common and is commonly present when a person is born. Most people have a slight astigmatism – it’s infrequent for the cornea to have developed in a dead symmetrical fashion. But in mild cases, the eye can adjust to focus light adequately.
In many instances of astigmatism the person also has different optical problems such as short-sightedness or long-sightedness. Two-thirds of people with short-sightedness also have significant astigmatism.
What are the symptoms?
In severe astigmatism, vision is obscured or distorted whether the person is reading close up or looking further into the distance.
In milder cases the person may complain their vision is smudged at certain distances, that they’ve tired or dry eyes, that it’s a struggle to focus or read, or that they’ve headaches, especially when trying to focus.
How is it diagnosed?
Astigmatism should be diagnosed by a specified optometrist, ophthalmic surgeon or eye specialist. A complete optometric examination should be done to assess the degree and extent of the problem.
Small children, who mightn’t be able to respond to the optometrist’s queries about what they can see, can be assessed using a test called retinoscopy that involves reflected light.
What’s the treatment?
By and large, astigmatism can be corrected by wearing properly fitted glasses or contact lenses.
Milder astigmatism may not need treatment unless the person is doing a job that puts intensive demands on the eyes, for example, computer work.
In some cases, astigmatism can be corrected by an operation called refractive surgery, which reshapes the cornea.
For some people another option is laser treatment. If you are considering this form of therapy, ensure that you speak to your surgeon about the good and bad points before you make your decision.
