Many people are told by their eye doctors that they have an eye condition known as astigmatism, without fully understanding what this means.  The actual details of an astigmatism are quite complicated and interesting and people would generally take better care of their eyes if they knew exactly what this diagnosis means in relation to their ability to see now and in the future.

Astigmatism is actually a faulty type of vision that is caused by an uneven curvature or shape in the refractive surfaces of the eye.  The areas of the eye that are usually involved in the cause of an astigmatism are the cornea and the lens, with the cornea being the most common cause of faulty vision.  Because of the uneven curvature of either the cornea or the lens, light rays are unable to reach a single focal point behind the retina.  What this means is that some of the light rays focus on the retina while others focus in front of or even behind it.

Although many experts believe that astigmatism is a congenital condition, disease or injury to the eye are other causes. Astigmatism is not a condition that occurs alone; it is likely to occur with either nearsightedness and farsightedness, which can make getting a prescription for glasses or contact lenses more involved. To help those with an astigmatism to focus, the optical dispenser will need to ensure that the prescription glasses take into account the astigmatism as well as needing to modify the spherical lenses that typically correct other vision problems.  Astigmatism can be corrected with both contact lenses and glasses, though most experts agree that it is best corrected with contact lenses.  Astigmatism is like other vision problems, it occurs in varying degrees from very mild to quite severe.

In recent years advances have been made in the treatment of astigmatism, as LASIK procedures are now available to correct faulty vision.  These procedures work to even out the refractive surfaces of the eye so that the patient can see well without the use of glasses or contacts.  These procedures are becoming more advanced all the time, making them much more affordable and realistic for astigmatism patients everywhere.

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Filed under: Eye Problems & Diseases • Types of Vision Disorders

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