Do You Have Astigmatism?

If you have astigmatism, there’s no need to panic. This common and very treatable eye condition occurs when there’s an imperfection in the curve of your cornea or lens. Instead of being shaped in a round circle, they have a surface that’s shaped more like an egg. As a result, you have blurred vision.

Astigmatism can occur in conjunction with farsightedness or nearsightedness. It can occur at any age, and one in three people have astigmatism. 

At Valley Eye Professionals in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, you get the care and corrective lenses you need to clear up vision affected by astigmatism. Here, we explain the condition and its treatments.

How do I know I have astigmatism?

A qualified eye professional, like the optometrists on our team, can diagnose astigmatism. But you may suspect you have this condition if:

• You have blurred vision when trying to focus on faraway objects, such as road signs
• You have unclear vision up close when reading or sewing

Uncorrected astigmatism stresses your eyes and can cause headaches, eye pain, fatigue, and squinting. If you suspect you have astigmatism, make an appointment with one of our professionals for a comprehensive eye exam.

Is astigmatism just one condition?

There are two types of astigmatism.

Regular astigmatism

Regular astigmatism is the most common form. It’s diagnosed when your cornea curves more in one direction than the other. This type is easily corrected with glasses.

Irregular astigmatism

This version is far less common. It’s diagnosed when the curvature of your cornea isn’t even, which could be the result of an eye injury or a progressive eye condition called keratoconus. Irregular astigmatism can sometimes be corrected with glasses, but often we recommend special contact lenses for the best vision improvement.

Can I have astigmatism along with other vision problems? 

Astigmatism isn’t the only condition that affects your vision. You may have astigmatism and:

Nearsightedness

When your cornea has too much curve or your eye is longer than normal, it affects the way light focuses on your retina so distant objects seem blurry.

Farsightedness

With farsightedness, you have too little curve to your cornea or a shorter eye than normal. Light can’t properly focus on the back of your eye so nearby objects are blurry.

How do I fix astigmatism?

Corrective lenses address astigmatism by counteracting uneven curvatures of your cornea and lens. You can choose from a wide variety of fashion eyeglasses and contact lenses at Valley Eye Professionals.

We can help you determine the style and type that are best for your lifestyle and vision needs. These corrective lenses resolve farsightedness and nearsightedness, too.

Surgery is another option. Although eye surgery may sound intimidating, it’s a rather common procedure in which one of our surgeons uses a laser beam to reshape the curves of the cornea, correcting the errors that contribute to blurry vision.

Examples of this refractive surgery are LASIK (or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy). Talk to the team here at Valley Eye Professionals to find out if this is an option for you.

To learn more about how we can treat your astigmatism and help you get clear vision, call the office or make an appointment using our online booking tool.