The round shape of your eyeballs allows light to be distributed evenly across your eyes, which is necessary for clear vision. Any irregularities with the shape of your eyes can lead to refractive errors, like astigmatism. Here, your trusted optometrist from Opti-Care answers the top questions about this visual acuity problem.
Q: What Are the Risk Factors, Causes, and Types of Astigmatism?
Inborn structural irregularities and heredity are common risk factors of astigmatism. This condition has two major classifications based on the eye part involved: lenticular astigmatism, which occurs when your natural lenses develop an unusual form, and corneal, which arises due to an uneven surface on your cornea. Both forms may cause dispersed light bending, impairing your vision.
Q: What Are the Usual Manifestations?
Our expert eye doctor explains that the hallmark sign of astigmatism is blurred vision when looking at distant and nearby objects. You may also experience frequent headaches and severe eye strain.
Q: How Do We Detect It?
If you experience any of these symptoms, we advise visiting your eye doctor immediately. We can perform a comprehensive eye exam to check for signs of astigmatism. We may also have you undergo visual acuity and refraction tests to determine the degree of error involved.
Q: What Are the Suggested Remedies?
We may recommend wearing toric corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses to manage your astigmatism. These lenses have a sliced donut shape to compensate for your irregularly shaped eyes. For a lasting solution, we may refer you to an expert LASIK surgeon and help you with the preoperative and postoperative care.
If you have any further questions about astigmatism, call us at (410) 600-3173 to schedule a visit. We offer premier eye care services to various communities in Maryland, including Ellicott City, Eldersburg, and Westminster.