Understanding Astigmatism - Diagnosis and Treatment Options

by Beth Collins⁽¹⁴⁾
Natural Remedies for Dogs

Astigmatism is a common vision condition that sounds worse than it actually is. If can be treated very easily in most cases with the proper care and corrective eye wear. If you've just recently been diagnosed with it, you're probably interested in learning more. This article will help you discover what the condition is, diagnosis and your treatment options.

Astigmatism can effect different areas of the eye such as the cornea and outer lens. These should be uniform in their curvature, but astigmatism causes them to have small irregularities. What problems does this cause? When you attempt to focus on different things, your vision may appear blurry or you may feel as though you have double vision. This diagnosis is very common and in some cases it's congenital. In many cases astigmatism doesn't require any treatment because it may simply be a mild case.

What are the signs of astigmatism? Obviously, blurred vision will occur, which some people describe as being distorted. You may also notice that your eyes before tired easily and experience eyestrain. Finally, another symptom is experiencing headaches on a regular basis. If any of these symptoms occur often, or continue for a long period of time, you should see your doctor for a checkup. In fact, it is recommended that you have your vision examined every 2-4 years until the age of 55. At that time, you should decrease the time between your visits, to between 1-3 years instead. By age 65, you should be visiting the eye doctor every year or two to ensure that your vision remains healthy. If you have preexisting issues with your eyes, or have a higher risk for certain conditions, you should see your doctor even more often.

How does astigmatism develop? Your eye has two parts which work together to help you focus your vision. Both your cornea and the lens of your eye must have uniform curvature and be functioning in harmony. If there is a flattened portion upon either surface, they will be unable to refract light correctly, and a distorted image is the result. Astigmatism is technically termed a refractive error for this reason. There are several different forms which you can have, depending upon where the abnormality is located within your eye's structure. If there is an issue with your cornea then the diagnosis is deemed a corneal astigmatism. In contrast, if the issue lies within your lens instead, then lenticular astigmatism is present in your situation.

How is it diagnosed? The diagnosis of astigmatism can be determined by your eye doctor with a few simple tests. These include measuring the reflected light, by using a keratometer to do so. Another test uses a device called a keratoscope which shines a beam of light directly on the surface of your cornea. This allows the doctor to measure its curvature, and any abnormalities will become apparent. With this handy tool, your eye doctor can accurately diagnose whether or not you have astigmatism as well as determine the severity of it.

What are your treatment options? The majority of astigmatism cases are mild and may not even require any treatment. However, if it is causing troubling symptoms, or interfering with your ability to see properly, it should be addressed. Glasses are usually the first treatment which the doctor will use, to see if it can be corrected with this simple method. Frequently, this will be enough to correct the problem and no other treatment is needed. Nonetheless, if your vision doesn't correct itself with this treatment then surgery is another option. With this procedure, the doctor will correct the curvature of your lens which will result in bringing your vision back into focus. Talk to your doctor about the surgical methods available in your specific situation, as they will have information which pertains to your case.

So, if you suspect that you might have astigmatism, you should see your eye doctor as soon as possible to have it diagnosed and begin treatment. Using simple diagnostic tools, they will be able to assess you right in their office. If you do in fact have this disorder, the treatments are generally successful and cause little disruption to a person's life. Simply discuss your options with your eye doctor and then you can determine the best course of action for you. When you do so, you'll likely correct the problem in short order, and get your vision back to where it should be!

For more information and to have a diagnosis of astigmatism confirmed by a qualified eye doctor, check out Toronto Optometrist You'll be able to discuss treatment options and decide on which is best for you, be it corrective eye wear or laser surgery.

Article submitted Tuesday, February 07, 2012 & read 2 times.

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