Astigmatism affects millions, yet many people who have the condition don’t know enough about it. At Clarity Eye Group, our doctors emphasize patient education and empowerment. With so much confusion around astigmatism, we’re dedicating this blog to five facts about this condition that might surprise you.
Astigmatism Can Affect Anyone
Contrary to popular belief, astigmatism isn’t reserved for adults. It can affect people of all ages, including children. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape, causing blurred vision at all distances.
This irregularity can be present from birth or develop as children grow. Regular eye exams are crucial for detecting astigmatism early, especially in children, as undiagnosed and untreated astigmatism could cause learning difficulties and developmental problems.
Astigmatism Affects More Than Just Your Vision
When patients have chronic headaches and eye fatigue, a vision checkup is one of the first things we recommend. In many cases, these symptoms are side effects of astigmatism. Fortunately, correcting your eyesight can also relieve these symptoms.
Astigmatism Can Occur Without Other Refractive Errors
Most people who have astigmatism also have nearsightedness or farsightedness. But, if you don’t have either, you may still have astigmatism. Even if you have perfect close-up or distance vision, astigmatism could cause significant blurriness that keeps you from seeing clearly.
This fact is another reason why regular eye exams are crucial. Exams can “catch” astigmatism early, even if you believe your vision is fine.
Diagnosing Astigmatism is Simple and Easy
Getting an astigmatism diagnosis is as simple as scheduling a comprehensive eye exam at Clarity Eye Group. Our experienced eye doctors perform various noninvasive tests to evaluate your visual acuity, how your eye processes light, the shape of your corneas, and the structures within your eyes.
These tests are painless and easy. After your comprehensive eye exam, you get an accurate diagnosis and personalized astigmatism treatment plan.
There Are Multiple Treatment Options
Many people assume that eyeglasses are the only treatment for astigmatism, but there are also special toric contact lenses. Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, our doctors might recommend laser eye surgery.
We offer LASIK surgery, which corrects astigmatism and reduces long-term reliance on glasses or contacts. If you want vision correction surgery but are not a good candidate for LASIK due to thin corneas, another surgery called PRK may offer similar results.
Astigmatism Help in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach
Don’t let astigmatism affect your quality of life any longer. Clarity Eye Group is ready to help you see the world more clearly, so call our office at (714) 842-0651 today to schedule an appointment.