What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a common type of refractive error. It is a condition in which the human eye does not focus light evenly onto the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Astigmatism in the eye means that the cornea is oval like a football instead of spherical like a basketball. Most astigmatic corneas have two curves – a steeper curve and a flatter curve. This causes light to focus on more than one point in the eye, resulting in blurred vision at distance or near. Astigmatism often occurs along with myopia or hypermetropia.

We can correct astigmatism by cylindrical and toric corrective appliances which refract entering parallel rays of light in such a way that both of formed focal lines of astigmatic eye come so close to each other that they become identical. This eliminates the focal interval which is present in uncorrected astigmatic eye. People suffering from astigmatism have several options how they can again acquire sharp vision: eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgical procedures.

If you experience any of these following symptoms, visit your eye care professional. You probably could have an astigmatism. If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses and still have these issues, a new prescription might be needed.