WHAT IS ASTIGMATISM? CAUSES, SYMPTOMS & EYE TEST

Astigmatism is one of the most common eye conditions that can affect one or both eyes. Astigmatism can result in blurred or distorted vision at all distances. It can affect people at any age and often people with astigmatism are short-sighted or long-sighted too. In the UK, nearly half of the people who wear glasses for vision correction have astigmatism.

What causes astigmatism?

Astigmatism is when the surface of the eye (cornea) or the lens behind it is not a round shape, but oval like a rugby ball. This distorts the light entering the eye which does not focus correctly on the retina, and as a result the image is blurred.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

One prominent astigmatism symptom is blurred vision when you are trying to focus on objects at long distances, such as road signs. It can also affect your vision for close activities, such as reading or sewing. If left uncorrected, astigmatism can lead to symptoms including:

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Squinting
  • Eye pain
  • Blurry vision

Types of Astigmatism

There are two types of astigmatism.

1. Regular astigmatism is when the cornea is curved more in one direction than the other. It is the most common form of astigmatism and can be corrected easily with glasses or toric contact lenses.

2. Irregular astigmatism is far less common and happens when the curvature of the cornea isn't even. It may be the result of an eye injury and related damage to the cornea, or a condition such as keratoconus, a progressive eye condition where the central cornea thins and becomes irregular in shape. It can't always be corrected with glasses, but it may be possible to correct with specialist contact lenses.

HOW DO I TEST FOR ASTIGMATISM?

If you suspect you have astigmatism, speak with your optician, or use the “find an optician” tool to find an optician near you and schedule an eye examination.

Use our Astigmatism Screener

In the meantime, why not see whether there's a possibility of you having astigmatism? Simply follow the steps below and answer all the questions provided.

CORRECTING ASTIGMATISM

Blurry vision may not always be the result of astigmatism, so you must seek an optician’s professional opinion. An optician will carry out a number of tests to understand your prescription so you can start your journey to correcting your astigmatism.

Astigmatism Correction Options

If you have regular astigmatism don’t worry, it can easily be corrected with glasses or soft toric contact lenses. Toric lenses compensate for the individual differences in the shape of your eye, enabling light to focus correctly on your retina. Toric lenses can also correct short-sightedness and long-sightedness at the same time as correcting astigmatism

CONTACT LENSES FOR ASTIGMATISM

For clear vision with astigmatism, your contact lenses need to stay in place and not rotate or shift out of position even with active lifestyles. ACUVUE® Contact Lenses for astigmatism feature unique Eyelid Stabilised Design – a technology that helps ensure your vision stays stable, crisp and clear as you go about your day.

GET STARTED WITH CONTACT LENSES

Start your Free Trial of ACUVUE® contact lenses today.

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Please note professional eye examination and fitting fees may apply. UK residents 18 or over only. One trial per person. Eligibility subject to optician approval. Participating opticians only. See link for full terms and conditions.