Are you seeing things blurry too? It could be because of astigmatism!

Have you ever noticed that some letters are not clear, they look a little stretched? Or when driving at night, do you see small lines around the lights on the road, or the light seems stretched? Sometimes we may think that it is just a little tiredness of our eyes. But this could be due to a minor eye condition called astigmatism . Don't worry, this is something that many people have, and it can be corrected. Today, we will talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.

What is Astigmatism?

Simply put, astigmatism is a slight problem with the way light enters our eyes. To be precise, it is mainly caused by a slight change in the shape of the transparent part at the front of our eyes, the cornea . Sometimes, it can also be caused by a change in the shape of the lens inside the eye.

Imagine, a healthy eye has a beautifully round cornea, like a ball. Then, the light rays coming from outside pass through this cornea and focus exactly on one spot inside the eye, which is the retina. That's when we see everything clearly.

But a person with astigmatism has a cornea that is shaped like a rugby ball, or slightly elongated like an egg, or curved to one side. What happens when that happens? When light rays enter the eye, they don't focus in one place. Instead, they focus in several places, or as a single line. That's when we see things blurry, stretched, and sometimes as if they were two. It's like we're looking through a broken mirror.

For example, the letter "D" may look like a "B", or a circle may look like an oval. This is what primarily happens with astigmatism.

Why does astigmatism occur? What are the causes?

It's difficult to pinpoint a single cause of astigmatism, but there are several main contributing factors:

• Genetic: This is often hereditary. This means that if your parents or someone in your family has this condition, you are more likely to develop it. Many people are born with this uneven shape of the cornea.
• Eye Injuries: If something hits or injures the eye, the shape of the cornea can sometimes change. This can also be a cause of astigmatism.
• Eye Surgeries: After some eye surgeries, such as cataract surgery, the shape of the cornea may change slightly. However, this does not happen to everyone.
• Eye Conditions: Some rare eye conditions, such as Keratoconus, can cause the cornea to thin and become cone-shaped. This is also a major cause of astigmatism.
• Rubbing or rubbing your eyes: Rubbing your eyes vigorously or applying pressure to your eyelids for a long time has also been shown in some studies to change the shape of the cornea. However, this is not a very common cause.

The important thing is that, whatever the causes, astigmatism is a condition that can be controlled and corrected .

How do you know if you have astigmatism? What are the symptoms?

If you have astigmatism, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Not everyone experiences them in the same way. Some people may not experience much discomfort if they only have a little.

Here are some common symptoms:

• Blurred or distorted vision: This is the main symptom. Objects that are close up as well as those that are far away may appear blurry and unclear. Some things, such as letters and lines, may appear distorted.
• Eye strain: When reading a book, staring at the computer, or watching television for a long time, your eyes may feel very tired and heavy.
• Headaches: Headaches can occur, especially after doing work that requires the use of both eyes. This may be due to the eyes becoming overworked.
• Squinting: Because you can't see clearly, you may be tempted to squint your eyes to see things clearly.
• Difficulty with night vision: At night, especially when driving, you may see glare or halos around lights. This can make it difficult to see the road at night.
• Itchy or burning eyes: Some people may experience frequent itching or burning of the eyes.
• Double vision in one eye: This is a bit rare, but some people can see two things even with one eye.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is best to seek medical advice.

How do you accurately determine if you have astigmatism?

Don't assume that you have astigmatism just because you have these symptoms. But if you have any doubts, you should definitely see an ophthalmologist or optometrist to have your eyes examined.

They use different methods to examine your eyes:

• Visual Acuity Test: You will be asked to read a chart with letters and numbers. This can measure your visual acuity.
• Keratometer or Corneal Topography: These instruments can accurately measure the curvature, or shape, of your cornea. This can help determine if you have astigmatism and how severe it is.
• Autorefractor: This is also a device that uses light to get a rough idea of ​​what kind of lens the eye needs.
• Phoropter and Retinoscope: A phoropter is a machine that holds your face in front of you and changes lenses one by one, asking, "Is this clear? Is that clear?" The doctor shines a light into your eye with the retinoscope and looks at how the light refracts inside the eye. This is how you find the right prescription for you.

All of these tests are painless, so there is no reason to be afraid.

What are the treatments for astigmatism?

The good news is that astigmatism is a condition that can be almost completely corrected . Your doctor will choose the most suitable treatment for you based on factors such as the level of your astigmatism, your age, and your lifestyle.

There are three main treatment methods:

1. Glasses (Eyeglasses)

This is the most common and simplest treatment. People with astigmatism are given glasses with specially designed cylindrical lenses . These lenses focus the light rays that do not converge at one point due to the uneven shape of the cornea onto a single point on the retina. Then you can see clearly.

2. Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a good option for people who don't want to wear glasses or who play sports. There are toric contact lenses that are specifically designed for astigmatism. These are a little different from regular contact lenses. They fit snugly inside the eye and correct astigmatism. For some severe cases of astigmatism, a type called Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses are also used.

3. Refractive Surgery

This involves using lasers to permanently reshape the cornea, eliminating astigmatism. After this, you will often no longer need to wear glasses or contact lenses.

There are several popular types of surgery:

• LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): In this procedure, a thin flap is created on the cornea and a laser beam is sent underneath it to reshape the cornea.
• PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): In this procedure, the top layer of the cornea is removed and a laser beam is used.
• SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): This is also a new laser surgery method.

These surgeries are not suitable for everyone. A doctor will decide whether you are suitable for this or not based on many factors, such as the condition of your eyes, age, and health.

Do young children get astigmatism?

Yes, astigmatism is a condition that is seen in young children. Some children are born with this condition. It is very important to recognize such things early so that children's eyesight can develop properly. Otherwise, it can affect their academic performance, play, and daily activities.

As a parent, you can keep an eye on your child's:

• Does the child often squint?
• Do you bring your face too close when reading books or watching TV?
• Do you often talk about headaches?
• Are your eyes red and watery?
• Are you trying to see with one eye closed?

If you see something like this, the best thing to do is to take your child to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. If you recognize these symptoms early, they can be treated simply with glasses.

The message we should take from this

Okay, so I think you now have a better idea about astigmatism.

The important thing is that astigmatism is not something to be afraid of. It is a very common and correctable condition.

• If you frequently experience blurred vision, strain, eye strain, or headaches, don't ignore it and definitely see an ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked.
• It is very important to have your eyes checked at regular intervals . This will help you identify not only conditions like this, but also other eye-related problems early.
• Use the glasses or contact lenses prescribed by your doctor correctly and regularly.
• Take special care of the vision of young children. It is very important for their future.

Your eyes are one of the most precious assets you have, so it's your responsibility to take care of them.

` Astigmatism, Astigmatism, Eyesight, Blurred Vision, Cornea, Eye Diseases, Glasses, Contact Lenses