Irregularities in the surface of your eyes may alter the light-bending process within your eyes. Without proper management, these structural infirmities may lead to refractive errors. One common form you may have heard of is astigmatism. In today’s post, your expert eye doctor from Guilford Eye Center answers some of the most common questions about this problem.
Q: How Does Astigmatism Happen?
There are two major types of astigmatism. Your cornea normally has an even, dome-like form. Any change to this shape may cause light rays to disperse in varying directions instead of directly onto your retina, a problem known as corneal astigmatism. Meanwhile, lenticular astigmatism happens when your lenses are too curved or too flat. This causes light rays to disperse unevenly into your eyes.
Q: What Are the Symptoms?
Astigmatism causes blurry close- and far-range vision. You may have a hard time recognizing distant objects and finishing close work. You may also have frequent headaches and eye strain. Some people can also have specific distorted areas in their visual field. If you notice any of these symptoms, visit your trusted eye clinic for a comprehensive eye exam as soon as possible.
Q: How Is It Detected?
Identifying astigmatism usually involves checking how your eyes focus light. We start by measuring your visual acuity. Standing 20 feet away, we’ll ask you to cover one of your eyes and read some letters from the Snellen chart. Afterward, we may have you undergo a refraction exam. We’ll let you try some lenses and instruct you to tell us which one gives you the best visual clarity.
Q: How Is It Managed?
Once we have confirmed astigmatism, we may prescribe using eyeglasses or contact lenses. Their corrective lenses usually have a sliced torus shape that compensates for your structural infirmities. This lets you clearly see both nearby and distant objects. We may also test if you’re a good candidate for laser eye surgery.
For more questions about astigmatism, call us at (336) 387-6777. You may also complete our form to request an appointment. We see patients from Greensboro and the surrounding North Carolina communities.
