Many people have astigmatism, and it can make your vision appear blurry. Luckily, this condition is readily treatable by an eye doctor.
What Is Astigmatism?
If you have astigmatism, your eyes have an irregular shape that prevents them from properly focusing light. The results of this condition are blurriness at both near and far distances. Some people will have myopia or hyperopia with astigmatism. Getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial for finding effective treatment in eye prescription lenses.
What Causes Astigmatism? And What Causes Astigmatism to Worsen?
Many cases of astigmatism have genetic ties and exist from birth. However, time may play a role, too, because some people find their astigmatism improves or worsens over time.
When it comes to astigmatism in children, they cannot always tell you about their blurry vision. A qualified eye doctor or ophthalmologist has specialty means of conducting an astigmatism test to spot the condition in child vision cases.
Though rarer, astigmatism can also happen from causes other than genetics. For instance, eye surgery or injury or keratoconus can all lead to astigmatism. These causes of the condition may also contribute to what causes astigmatism to worsen in some people.
What Are Astigmatism Symptoms?
Common astigmatism symptoms include headaches, blurry vision, poor night vision, and eyestrain. If you have any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment for an eye exam. Only a qualified eye doctor can diagnose your condition and inform you on how to correct astigmatism through an eye prescription for corrective lenses or surgery.
How Does an Eye Doctor Determine How Bad Is My Astigmatism?
During an eye exam, your eye doctor or ophthalmologist will conduct multiple tests to measure how well you can see and to answer your question of “How bad is my astigmatism?”
Common tests during an eye exam include a test of visual acuity. Another exam is the refraction test using a phoropter to determine the ideal strength for your corrective lenses. During this test, your eye doctor will ask you which of the two lenses gives you a clearer view of an image. Your answers will help your eye doctor or ophthalmologist to create the correct eye prescription for your corrective lenses. Lastly, your eye doctor will measure the shape of your cornea to determine how much it curves out of shape.
How to Correct Astigmatism?
When it comes to correcting your vision, you have several choices. Your eye doctor or ophthalmologist can write a prescription for corrective eyeglasses. If you prefer contact lenses, you will need hard-to-fit contacts that require additional care in fitting to ensure that you get a perfect fit and good vision correction. Some people with astigmatism may qualify for LASIK eye surgery to correct the shape of their eyes.
Contact Spectrum Eye Physicians Today!
Schedule your appointment online or call us at 408-884-2215. No matter which of our locations you visit, you will receive the latest in eye care technology from friendly eye doctors and staff committed to serving you.
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