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What is astigmatism and how can it be treated?

Astigmatism is a common condition resulting in blurred vision. Irregularities in the cornea, or sometimes the lens, cause light to focus incorrectly on the retina. Fortunately, astigmatism treatment is usually simple and effective. As your Naples eye care center, we have helped numerous patients to correct their astigmatism and to see clearly, and we can do the same for you.

astigmatism

Understanding Astigmatism

While it is possible to get astigmatism from an eye injury or from a somewhat rare disorder called keratoconus, in most cases astigmatism is the result of heredity. If any of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents had astigmatism, then there is a chance you could suffer from it as well. In reality, there are a lot of people with very mild astigmatism that goes unnoticed and does not require vision correction. So if you find out you have astigmatism, take some comfort in the fact that you are far from alone!

The eye is normally shaped more like a basketball, with light traveling through the cornea and lens to focus on the retina. With astigmatism, the eye is shaped more like a football, with irregular curvatures causing the light passing through the eye to focus incorrectly. The objects you see may only be partly in focus because of the way the light is hitting – or not hitting – your retina.

Astigmatism can affect people of all ages, from children to older adults. In most cases, the symptoms will be apparent early on, so it is important to make sure children get regular eye exams so they do not have to suffer from blurred vision and other difficulties associated with astigmatism any longer than necessary.

What Are the Symptoms of Astigmatism?

The main symptom of astigmatism is blurry vision, and sometimes headaches will accompany the blurry vision as the individual must continuously strain to see in day to day life. When the vision is quite blurry it usually drives people to visit the eye doctor and get treatment. But when the blurry vision is less extreme, some people may try to push through the inconvenience and discomfort.

Astigmatism will not go away on its own, so getting treatment is the simplest and most obvious solution. Having your astigmatism corrected leads to greater comfort, clear vision and all the benefits that come from seeing the world accurately.

What Treatments Are Available?

The three main treatments for astigmatism are:

  • Glasses
  • Contacts
  • Refractive surgery

Most cases of astigmatism can easily be treated using corrective lenses, whether glasses or contacts. Contacts are also available that can help to reshape the cornea. There is more than one method of refractive surgery used for astigmatism. If we believe that surgery is the best option, we can help you choose which surgery fits your needs.

Schedule Your Astigmatism Treatment Appointment Today!

If you are suffering from blurry vision, or if you know you have astigmatism that needs treatment, please get in touch with our office. Give us a call at (239) 262-6288 to schedule your appointment.