Astigmatism exists when the cornea is not uniformly curved like a sphere, but is more oval in one direction, like a rugby ball. As a result, light rays do not converge at one point, but form two points of focus on the retina. This leads to a blurred or distorted image at all distances.
Individuals with can have astigmatism from birth or develop it overtime. You can be short or long sighted and have astigmatism.
In cases of severe astigmatism, you may notice:
- Tired eyes
- Blurring and distortion of near or distance objects
- Headaches when trying to focus
Astigmatism can usually be treated with prescription glasses or contact lenses. Surgical procedures such as LASIK or ICL implantation are also available to treat astigmatism.