What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a very common cause of blurry vision. The eye is shaped more like an egg or football rather than an orange. Either the cornea or the lens of the eye is not round if you have astigmatism. Instead it is oblong.
It is often hereditary and you are often born with it. Most people have astigmatism in their glasses prescription. The amount and direction can change over time. If you have astigmatism, objects can look elongated either vertically or horizontally.
Children and Astigmatism
It is important that astigmatism is diagnosed in children at an early age. Children may not complain of blurry vision. If your child has a lot of astigmatism that goes undiagnosed, the visual system may not develop properly. This can lead to a condition called amblyopia (lazy eye). If your child does not pass a screening evaluation at either their pediatrician or school, it is important that they have a comprehensive eye examination to determine the reason.
Undiagnosed astigmatism can cause blurry vision and possibly difficulty seeing at school. Refractive error is not affected if you child sits too close to the TV or reads in low light.
What Causes Astigmatism?
Astigmatism can be caused by either the shape of the cornea or the lens. The cornea is the windshield of the eye and the lens focuses light inside the eye. If either structure is shaped more oblong, you may have astigmatism.
How Do I Treat Astigmatism?
You will want to have your astigmatism treated to provide the best possible vision. It can be treated with glasses and / or contact lenses. There are many contact lens options available.
It can also be treated with Lasik or Epi Lasek eye surgery. I can perform a thorough eye examination to determine if you are a candidate.
If you have astigmatism and require cataract surgery, we can evaluate you for a special implant to correct the astigmatism. This implant is called a toric implant and can greatly reduce your dependency on glasses after cataract surgery.
Alaina Kronenberg, M.D.
Cataract Specialist
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
