Eye Health and Diagnosing Astigmatism

Eye health is one of the most undervalued but important aspects of our overall health. Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Millions of Americans suffer from eye disorders and one of the more common issues is called Astigmatism. 

This common eye problem will cause blurry vision. How does this happen? What is called the "lens" or the cornea —the clear layer that covers your eye— possesses slight imperfections which leads to the eye being unable to refract light correctly. Patients will have trouble seeing fine details in various objects and views both nearby and in the distance. Those with this condition will have a difficult time reading the fine print and may even experience headaches from eye strain.  This is where a pair of glasses or contacts comes in to solve the problem. 

 

Unfortunately, astigmatism is a condition most people are born with. Oftentimes, a child isn't diagnosed until school begins and discovers they have a difficult time reading or seeing the blackboard. Sometimes they can develop later in life perhaps after an injury, surgical procedure or even cataracts. If you're born with it, it can worsen as you age, and it also can occur along with other eye disorders like nearsightedness or farsightedness. 

Most people have some degree of astigmatism, but don't know it or seek treatment. Generally, as we mentioned a pair of glasses or getting fitted for contacts can help solve this problem but some patients resort to laser eye surgery to correct it. Some may not need to treat it at all if symptoms are at a minimum.

Poor lighting and eye strain make it harder to see clearly but won't actually make the astigmatism worse. If your vision feels blurry, it's important to have your vision evaluated by an ophthalmologist for a full eye exam. Family history plays a role in your individual risk of having or developing this disease.