Astigmatism occurs when the cornea has a slight irregularity in its curvature. This irregularity results in an inability to properly focus light onto the retina, which may lead to headaches and eyestrain in mild cases to blurriness at all distances in more severe cases.

Ideally, the cornea should be spherical, clear and smooth. Because the cornea is often not perfectly spherical, most people have some degree of astigmatism. These imperfections are often present from birth and may not change during a person's life.

It is important to note that astigmatism may adversely affect a child's performance in the classroom. Unfortunately, astigmatism is rarely detected during standard visual tests conducted by schools. An Optometrist, during a comprehensive eye exam, will detect astigmatism and determine whether or not correction is necessary as well as the degree of correction.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of astigmatism vary with respect to degree. In more mild cases, one may experience headaches, eyestrain, or fatigue. More severe cases result in blurred vision at all distances. Images may also appear wavy or distorted.

Risk Factors:

Heredity is considered the most common component in determining an individual's tendency to have or develop this condition, especially with larger degrees of astigmatism. Smaller degrees of astigmatism are considered common and may be acquired at any time during a person's life. The precise cause(s) of the irregularities in the curvature of the cornea is (are) not fully understood.

Treatment:

Prescription glasses and/or contact lenses are most often prescribed as a corrective measure for the affects of astigmatism. A more drastic option for patients is corneal modification.