How Does Astigmatism Affect Your Vision?

Does your vision blur when you’re trying to read tiny prints or numbers on a pharmacy bottle? You may have astigmatism. It’s a common refractive error due to a greater-than-normal curve in your eye shape; about one-third of the population has some degree of astigmatism. 

Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Stephen Khachikian treats astigmatism in many patients. Some individuals can get by with drugstore reading glasses if astigmatism blurs small numbers or letters they’re trying to read. If astigmatism is more severe, you can correct it with prescription eyeglasses. 

If you want to be free of glasses, Dr. Khachikian performs laser surgery to correct astigmatism. Here’s more about the condition, how it affects your vision, and how surgery eliminates it.

What is astigmatism? 

With normal vision, your eyeball is a round shape, and your cornea, the clear protective layer of your eye, covers it. When you have astigmatism, your cornea becomes elongated, more resembling the shape of a football. 

Because the cornea’s shape is abnormal, light doesn’t focus correctly on your retina. When this occurs, just a part of the object you’re looking at is in focus. You have astigmatism. The condition can affect your vision when looking at objects both up close and far away. 

Scientists don’t yet understand why some people have astigmatism and others don’t. You can be born with astigmatism or develop it anytime from early in life through adulthood. 

Symptoms of astigmatism

Following are common symptoms of astigmatism: 

• Blurry vision
• Squinting to see clearly
• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Difficulty with night vision 

If you don’t wear glasses and you’re experiencing frequent headaches and aching eyes, or if you’re having trouble seeing objects clearly, please call our office for an appointment. Dr. Khachikian performs a thorough exam and assessment and can get to the root of your eye strain. 

Blurry vision can also be a symptom of some eye diseases, so don’t wait to get your eyes examined. Early treatment can save your sight. 

Effective treatment for astigmatism

Corrective lenses — either eyeglasses or contact lenses — or laser surgery can correct astigmatism. It’s very common to have nearsightedness or farsightedness along with astigmatism. Eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct these refractive errors, too. 

Wearing rigid contacts at night gradually corrects the shape of your cornea. Once your cornea is the correct shape, you won’t have to wear them every night. If you discontinue wearing them, though, your eye returns to the elongated shape.

Laser surgery can correct astigmatism very effectively. If Dr. Khachikian determines that you’re a good candidate, laser surgery may be a great option for you — refractive surgery reshapes your cornea, eliminating the curve and clearing your vision.

Call the office of Dr. Stephen Khachikian today or book an appointment online if you have blurry vision or other vision problems.