Have you ever noticed difficulty when focusing on items close up or far away? Perhaps the image is blurry, and no matter how much you blink or squint, you just can’t focus. This could be a sign that you’re suffering from astigmatism. But what is astigmatism? Great question! In this blog, we look at the causes of astigmatism, what it actually is, and if the right lenses can improve your sight if you do have astigmatism.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is an eye condition where your cornea or eye lens is slightly misshaped. This means that when light enters your eye, rather than creating one line of focus, the light will bend in different directions and only leave one part of what you’re looking at in focus. That results in blurry vision, especially when you’re viewing things from a distance. Astigmatism is commonly referred to as a refractive error, as it has all to do with how your eye refracts (bends) light.
Symptoms of Astigmatism
Astigmatism is often connected to other eye conditions, such as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). The most common symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Blurred vision
- ‘Wavy’ images
- Headaches
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Eye strain
- Squinting when focusing on an object
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, we recommend booking an appointment with your optician, who can determine whether or not you have astigmatism with a simple eye test.
Causes of Astigmatism?
There is no direct cause of astigmatism. Like most eye conditions, astigmatism often develops as our eyes age and is a common eye issue as we get older. It is an inherited condition, so many people are born with astigmatism, and it will appear at some point in their lives.
It can also occur due to eye injury, surgery, or disease. In some rarer cases, a condition called keratoconus, which causes your cornea to become more cone-shaped and thinner, can also lead to astigmatism.
Can You Fix Astigmatism?
Although you cannot cure astigmatism, there are ways to help correct and manage the condition. The most popular solution is corrective lenses – either glasses or contact lenses. These include cylindrical lenses that are specifically designed to work with the irregular shape of the cornea and correctly guide light to the retina.
Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, or if you have other eye conditions (like hyperopia and myopia), you may require both contact lenses and glasses to enhance your sight. Sitting on the eye’s surface, contact lenses offer a more precise solution for astigmatism and are a practical option for those requiring corrective lenses for longer periods and busy lifestyles.
Can Surgery Fix Astigmatism?
For the best results to manage astigmatism, you can’t go far wrong with corrective lenses. But along with your unique prescription, the shape, size, and type of lens of your glasses all play an important role in supporting your astigmatism. So, what are the best lenses for astigmatism?
Shape and Size of Your Frames
Because the main issue of astigmatism is how your eye bends light, you want to minimise this refraction with frames that have a flat front. Curved or wraparound frames can cause further distortion. Also, consider wider frames that cover more of your field of vision.
Lens Material
This is dependent on the severity of your astigmatism. Polycarbonate lenses will suffice for mild or moderate levels of astigmatism. Higher levels of astigmatism (above +/-4.0 diopters) will require a higher lens index (1.67 or above), which makes the lens lighter while still supporting your visual needs. For more insight, read our dedicated guide to high-index lenses.
Lens Coatings
It is strongly recommended that glasses worn for astigmatism should also include anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings. These will help maximise the amount of light entering your eye while keeping your lenses clean for a clear picture.
Reglaze Your Lenses with Lensology
If you’re already a glasses wearer or need new glasses to correct your astigmatism, Lensology can support your visual needs without you having to buy another pair of specs!
Simply send us your existing frames and latest optical prescription, and our expert technicians will reglaze and fit an updated lens into your glasses. Your new glasses journey starts by requesting a free reglazing pack.
