All about astigmatism!
What is an astigmatism?
Did you know, our eyes are not perfectly round; rather they are egg-shaped!
In astigmatism however, the eye is even more elongated than the normal eye.
Astigmatism can be caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or the curvature of the lens. It causes the image of an object to be partially out of focus, which results in blurry or fuzzy vision.
Symptoms of astigmatism
You may Experience the following symptoms if you have astigmatism:
- Eye Fatigue
- Blurry of fuzzy vision
- Double vision
- Headaches
- Eye strain
- Frequent squinting to see more clearly
- Eye discomfort and glare
- Confusion between similarly shaped letters and numbers
- Dizziness
What can cause astigmatism?
Astigmatism normally results from a cornea or lens that is distorted.
Normally the curvature of the cornea is spherical (like a football) meaning that light ‘lands’ at a single point (on the retina).
In an astigmatic eye the cornea is irregular so its curvature is toric (like a rugby ball) light rays therefore don’t ‘land’ on a single point meaning vision is distorted and more out of focus in some directions than others.
Objects, letters and numbers may be out of focus horizontally, vertically or both at once.
Irregular astigmatism
A less common version of astigmatism is called irregular astigmatism. This may be caused by a scar on the cornea.
Irregular astigmatism causes light to be scattered in a specific, irregular direction.
Causes?
Astigmatism is thought to be genetic. contrary to popular myth its not caused by reading in dim light or sitting too close to the television.
The curvature of your lens is susceptible to change, meaning your astigmatism can either improve or worsen in time.
Here at Loxley we take eye care seriously. We are committed to providing you with the highest standard of care, in an open and relaxed environment.
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