Astigmatism is a common vision problem, causing blurriness that can make it difficult to see clearly in many environments and at every distance.
The good news is that it can be treated. In fact, early and ongoing attention for astigmatism can have major benefits for your vision and quality of life.
In this post, Curtis Frank, OD, and our team at Vision and Ortho-K Center offer a brief primer on astigmatism, with an explanation of why regular eye exams are important for maintaining your vision and overall wellness, especially as you get older.
Astigmatism happens when the cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — has an irregular curve. Instead of being perfectly (or nearly perfectly) round, it’s shaped more like a football or an egg.
This surface bends light unevenly as it enters your eye, causing blurry or distorted vision at all distances. Because astigmatism affects the way light bends (refracts), it’s called a refractive error — just like nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).
In fact, many people with astigmatism also have one of these other types of refractive problems.
Astigmatism can be present from birth or develop later as you get older and your eyes change. Traumatic injury and infections can also lead to astigmatism, although many people inherit the tendency from their relatives.
When your vision is blurry, your eyes continually adjust to clear the distortion. As a result, people with uncorrected astigmatism are more likely to experience eye fatigue or chronic headaches. Light sensitivity and dry eyes can also occur.
For many, it’s tempting to attribute these issues to other problems, like stress or too much screen time, meaning a true diagnosis can be delayed.
Regular eye exams are essential for diagnosing and correcting astigmatism early, before vision changes become disruptive or take a toll on your health in other ways.
Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with astigmatism, regular eye exams are still important. That’s because astigmatism often changes over time, meaning you may require an updated prescription more often.
Routine visits with our team provide an opportunity to ensure your prescription remains on track with your changing vision needs.
For kids, correction is even more important because uncorrected vision problems can lead to learning difficulties, poor school performance, and difficulty participating in extracurricular activities, like sports and clubs.
It also significantly increases the risks of amblyopia (“lazy eye”) and severe myopia, potentially altering eye growth and visual development.
With regular exams and personalized care, you can enjoy clear and comfortable vision and keep your eyes healthy for years to come.
To schedule your exam or to learn more about astigmatism care and treatment, request an appointment with Dr. Frank and the team at Vision and Ortho-K Center in Boston, Massachusetts, today.
