Many of us have been told at some point that we have “astigmatism”, which begs the question – is it as scary as it sounds?!
In short, the answer is no. Astigmatism is an extremely common condition that affects the clarity of someone’s vision due to the way light is focused within the eye. In fact, most people have some degree of astigmatism!
What causes Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is caused by a slight irregularity or imperfection in the shape of your eye. This irregularity means that light isn’t channelled perfectly through your eye and into the photo-receptors located on the back wall of your eye. This is why most people have a slight lack of clarity (near-sightedness or far-sightedness). Since many people are told that they have some degree of astigmatism, it is understandable to wonder what some symptoms of astigmatism are.
What are the symptoms of Astigmatism?
If the amount of astigmatism is low, often there will not be any required treatments at all. This also means that people may not experience any symptoms at all.
When the amount of astigmatism is high it can mean that it’s irregular but similar between each eye or that the levels of astigmatism are quite different between the eyes.
People with Astigmatism commonly experience…
- Blurry vision
- Distorted or “shadowy” images
- Vision doubling
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
- And (in rare cases) when the amount of astigmatism is very high, patients may not see perfectly 20/20 vision even with proper correction.
How to deal with Astigmatism
The most common way to correct astigmatism is with glasses or contact lenses. But, refractive surgeries, such as LASIK and PRK may also be effective at treating astigmatism. In the vast majority of people, astigmatism occurs with other common vision conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).
An Optometrist is trained to provide the clearest and most comfortable solution for your visual concerns, including astigmatism. If you feel like you may be experiencing some of these symptoms, be sure to book an appointment with your optometrist.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Danny Walker hails from Mississauga, Ontario, and has been practicing Optometry in the Okanagan for the past three years. Dr. Walker completed both his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degrees at the University of Waterloo, graduating in 2012. At Inspired Eyes Optometry, Dr. Walker enjoys being able to provide his patients with thorough examinations and personalized eye care. He has a special interest in protecting and maintaining optimal visual wellness through a variety of factors that include lifestyle and nutrition.
Dr. Walker is available for morning, daytime, evening and Saturday appointments at Inspired Eyes Creative Eyewear & Optometry.
Call (250) 862-5900 or Book Online.
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