Astigmatism

Astigmatism affects one in three people, making their vision blurry at all distances, whether they’re trying to read a book or a far-away road sign. The team at Vistasite Eye Care in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York, provide comprehensive eye exams and treatment for people of all ages with astigmatism. If you need help treating blurry vision, call the New York City office or book an appointment online today.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a refractive error that affects your vision, causing both near and distant vision to become blurry. Refractive errors occur when your eye doesn’t bend (refract) light properly. As a result, the light isn’t sharply focused on your retina, and you lose sharp vision.

You can develop astigmatism if the eye’s lens doesn’t work properly or if you have an eye disease that changes the cornea, such as keratoconus. However, astigmatism most often occurs when you have a misshapen cornea.

The cornea uses its round shape to bend light as it enters your eyes, focusing the many beams on the lens. The lens fine-tunes the light, bending it to focus precisely on the center of your retina.

If the cornea is shaped more like a football, it sends light rays in multiple directions rather than pulling them into focus. As a result, the light may land anywhere in front of or behind the retina, affecting your ability to see objects that are nearby and far away clearly.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

Astigmatism causes the following signs and symptoms:

• Blurry vision
• Areas of distorted vision
• Eyestrain (tired, burning, watery, or dry eyes)
• Headaches
• Squinting to see clearly
• Eye discomfort

Young children may not be aware their vision is blurry. Parents and teachers may notice squinting, eye rubbing, red eyes, or a drop in the child’s performance at school.

How is astigmatism treated?

The Vistasite Eye Care optometrists treat astigmatism with:

Eyeglasses and contact lenses

Thanks to advanced technology, you can get eyeglasses and contact lenses made with toric lenses that improve your vision by compensating for the variations in refraction.

Some patients may be good candidates for hard contact lenses or specialized scleral contacts that correct astigmatism while also helping to maintain the cornea’s natural, round shape. 

Scleral lenses are larger and easier to fit over unusually shaped corneas. These lenses are a good choice if you have keratoconus.

Refractive surgery

Refractive surgery includes laser procedures such as laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). These surgeries precisely remove small pieces of the cornea, restoring its natural round shape. 

To learn about your treatment options for astigmatism, call Vistasite Eye Care or schedule an appointment online today.