Astigmatism—A closer look at causes, symptoms, treatments
Astigmatism: A different cornea or lens shape
The science of astigmatism made simple
Start by understanding non-astigmatic eyes
A different shape affects vision
With astigmatism, your cornea or lens isn’t spherical like most people’s—it’s more cylindrical, like an American football. Since light isn’t passing through a uniform sphere shape, it doesn’t focus equally on one part of your retina (the part of your eye that helps form the images you see), it focuses at two or more points inside the eye. For example, one point might be on the retina and one might be behind the retina. This is what can create blurry or distorted vision.
How to tell if you have astigmatism
People with uncorrected astigmatism may experience one or more of these symptoms, and they can be mild or more severe, depending on the shape of your cornea and/or lens. To know for sure whether you have astigmatism, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor.
- Blurry vision at all distances
- Distorted or squashed images
- Streaky or haloed lights at night
- Headaches
- Eye fatigue
- Squinting
- Difficulty seeing at night
What might someone with astigmatism see?
The image on the left shows an example a scene with clear vision, and the image on the right shows what the same scene might look like for a person with uncorrected astigmatism.
It may be in your genes
How eye doctors diagnose astigmatism
A comprehensive eye exam can reveal whether or not you have astigmatism. There are a few pieces of equipment your doctor can use to help them determine the shape of your cornea.
- A phoropter is an instrument with various lenses in it that your eye doctor can use to test your vision and determine your prescription.
- An autorefractor shines a light into your eye and measures how the path of the light changes as it bounces off the back of your eye.
- A keratometer measures the curve of the cornea, which can reveal whether it’s round or not.
- A corneal topography is like a map of the shape of your eye. It helps a doctor get a precise reading of your astigmatism.
How to correct astigmatism
Correcting astigmatism so that you can see clearly isn’t one size fits all—your prescribed solution will depend on your lifestyle, your eyes, and the expertise and recommendation of your eye doctor.
Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses correct astigmatism by using toric lenses made specifically for the shape of your corneas.
Surgery
You may have heard of LASIK. It’s where an eye surgeon uses a laser to reshape your cornea, and it works for many cases of astigmatism too.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology is a big word for lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea. Think: A mold that adjusts the cornea to a shape that provides clearer vision. Orthokeratology lenses are typically worn at night so that the temporarily reshaped cornea can help provide clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contacts. If a patient stops wearing the lenses, the corneas returns to their original shapes and because of this, vision returns to its original condition.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses correct astigmatism in a way similarly to glasses—they refocus the light so that you can see more clearly. There are two options:
- Soft toric contact lenses
- Rigid Gas Permeable, often chosen for more extreme cases of astigmatism
Why choose ACUVUE for astigmatism?
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Footnotes
Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.
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WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.
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Important Information For Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.
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