One of the most common questions people ask when they discover that they have an astigmatism in either one or both eyes is whether there is anything they can do to correct the condition. The good news is, the answer to that question is yes!
Here’s everything you need to know about an astigmatism, and the ways that it can be corrected:
What is Astigmatism?
An astigmatism is one of the most common eye issues that people can experience. It is a refractive error which means that the eye or eyes don’t reflect light evenly onto the retina (this is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). As a result, individuals who have an astigmatism may well find they experience headaches, strained eyes and squinting, blurred vision and difficulties in driving at night.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then it’s important that you visit your optometrist for an eye test, even if you already wear glasses. It could well be that you need a new prescription to adjust for a newly developed astigmatism. An astigmatism is usually diagnosed during a comprehensive dilated eye exam, and it is possible to have a mild and asymptomatic astigmatism without knowing it, which is just one of the reasons why it’s so important to have your eyes checked regularly.
How to Correct an Astigmatism
If you do have an astigmatism then there are three different ways that you can correct it: with glasses, contact lenses or with the more extreme method of undergoing refractive surgery.
Glasses
By far the simplest and safest way to correct an astigmatism (and the way that most optometrists would recommend, particularly immediately after diagnosis) is with a pair of glasses. Your eye care professional will simply issue you with your prescription, and then you can choose from a huge range of glasses styles until you find the ones that suit you perfectly.
Contact Lenses
If you don’t like the idea of wearing glasses, then you could also explore the option of repairing your astigmatism with contact lenses. Contact lenses work by becoming the first refractive surface that the light rays will hit when they enter your eye, improving the precision of your focus. Contact lenses are perfectly safe, however they are not the right choice for everyone. It is something to think carefully about and discuss with your eyecare professional before you make the choice.
Refractive Surgery
Finally, you could undergo refractive surgery which will completely resolve your astigmatism. The aim of refractive surgery is to permanently change the shape of the cornea however, like all surgeries, this is not without risks. Most optometrists would recommend that you try wearing glasses for a while before making the decision to undergo intensive surgery.
Wearing glasses is considered the easiest and most straightforward way to fix an astigmatism. Which a huge array of frame styles, shapes and colours available, and in a wide range of price points, there really isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t find a pair that you love. They will give you your perfect vision back, and completely revolutionise your life.
