Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a very common vision problem in which objects appear blurry or slightly distorted both at a distance and up close. It happens because the cornea, the transparent layer covering the front of the eye, is not perfectly round but slightly oval, which causes the light entering the eye not to focus on a single sharp point on the retina.

Many people with astigmatism also notice eye strain, headaches at the end of the day, or the need to squint in order to focus better on small print, distant signs, or objects in low-light conditions. Astigmatism is very often associated with nearsightedness or farsightedness, so a single prescription usually corrects both problems at the same time.

If you notice blurred vision that does not improve by moving closer to or farther from objects, frequent eye strain, or particular difficulty seeing at night (halos, glare around lights), you should see an ophthalmologist for an eye exam. In most cases, astigmatism can be corrected easily with glasses or contact lenses, and in adults with a stable prescription it can also be treated surgically with laser refractive surgery techniques. In children, an eye exam is especially important: uncorrected astigmatism during the first years of life can cause a condition called lazy eye or amblyopia, in which the eye with the greater defect does not fully develop its visual ability. That is why we recommend checking children’s vision at an early age even if they do not report symptoms, because at those ages it is difficult for them to realize on their own that they are not seeing well.