Astigmatism

How do your eyes shape up?

Astigmatism is a condition occurring when the front surface of your eye, the cornea, is shaped irregularly, distorting your vision.

When your eyes take in light waves, the cornea and the lens focus those waves to produce a single image on the retina. When your cornea is shaped irregularly, however, the light waves are focused on two spots on the retina. This produces an unclear or fuzzy picture.

If your astigmatism is mild, you may notice nothing beyond a slight blurring of your vision at all distances. In more severe cases, however, a person with astigmatism may suffer from headaches, eyestrain or fatigue.

Astigmatism is common; most people have it in some degree. It often occurs with other vision problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Optometrists can detect astigmatism and determine its degree in a comprehensive eye examination. Astigmatism can be corrected with properly prescribed and fitted eyeglasses or contact lenses.

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