Facts about Astigmatism and Treatment Options

You've probably heard about nearsightedness and farsightedness. They are irregularities in the way a person's eye refracts incoming light. There is a third condition known as astigmatism. It's a little more complicated than the other two refractive errors, but it is still a highly treatable condition.

Astigmatism occurs when the natural curvature of the patient's eye is disrupted in some areas. These imperfections in the shape of the eye cause blurred vision. The blurriness affects vision of all ranges, not just up close or far away. Astigmatism can also cause straight lines to appear distorted or wavy. This condition is usually present from birth, but may also manifest as a result of eye trauma or disease.

Many people who suffer from astigmatism complain of headaches, eye strain, irritated eyes, frequent fatigue, and difficulty focusing. They may squint their eyes a lot in an effort to see things more clearly. These symptoms are clues, but they aren't enough to base a diagnosis on. If you think you might have astigmatism in one or both eyes, call your eye doctor to set up an appointment. Only a thorough examination by a qualified ophthalmologist can detect astigmatism.

Many treatment options are available for people with astigmatism. Corrective eyewear is the most common treatment. There are many varieties of glasses and contact lenses that work well with astigmatism. For patients who prefer not to wear lenses of any kind, LASIK laser eye surgery is another choice. LASIK has been a highly successful treatment for astigmatism. Another treatment option for astigmatism is ASA, or Advanced Surface Ablation. Like LASIK, ASA can also be used to treat nearsightedness and farsightedness. The LASIK procedure is quickly becoming the more popular of the two treatment options.

Your eye surgeon might recommend custom LASIK, which measures the curve of your cornea to deliver highly customized results. If you have large pupils or thin corneas, ask your doctor about PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy. Finally, implantable contact lenses are a relatively new, but highly regarded treatment for people with astigmatism. Astigmatism can make simple daily tasks challenging. Thankfully, you can get astigmatism corrected with very little fuss. Talk to your eye doctor about your treatment options.