One of the most common conditions that many glasses wearers have is astigmatism. It causes the affected person to have permanently blurred or distorted vision, no matter the viewing distance. In severe cases and when it is not being treated properly or at all, other symptoms might appear:

  • Such as headaches.
  • Having to squint to see clearly.
  • Constant eye strain, accompanied by tiredness when focusing on prolonged tasks like reading a book or working on a computer screen. 

What causes astigmatism?

In most cases, astigmatism is something you are usually born with, but it can also be developed by an eye injury, disease or surgery. It’s most likely linked to genetics, as it is not clear why it exactly happens; you are more likely to have it if you are short-or-long sighted. 

It is caused by an error in the shape of the cornea. Due to the misshaping of the cornea there is a change in the way light passes or refracts to the retina, causing blurry, fuzzy or distorted vision.

Can it be treated and cured?

Astigmatism can be corrected in three ways –  prescription glasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery. Prescription glasses are the most common way to alleviate the symptoms.

Uncorrected astigmatism may lead to lazy eye in children, so it is really important to take your child for regular check ups so they can be prescribed the right treatment if needed and be able to see clearly again.

Astigmatism also may get worse with age, so it is also advisable to have regular eye examinations. Your oculist can help you to avoid wearing lenses that are not suitable for your current eye conditions which, again, may make the symptoms mentioned earlier appear.

In conclusion

At the end of the day, we should all treat our eyes as the rest of our body and have examinations at least once a year to make sure everything is in order.

Having eye problems is indeed not a pleasant situation but we can learn to make the best of it with different tools and aids. If you are looking for a fabulous new pair of reading glasses for your eyes take a look, you can have a look at our collection. Please keep in mind that reading glasses can be very useful but shouldn't be used as a substitute for your prescription glasses.