What Is the Definition of Astigmatism?
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea, the transparent front layer or part of the eyeball, is not perfectly round. Due to a defect in the eye’s curvature, this condition causes blurred vision at both a distance and in close proximity.
Our pupils are sphere-shaped. A spherical eye reflects light uniformly. Refraction occurs when light penetrates the eye at a specific angle. When refracted evenly, light focuses precisely on the retina at the rear of the eye. As a consequence, you perceive objects with clarity. (1)
Astigmatism is characterised by eyes that resemble a football or a utensil. It refracts light in the eye erratically, primarily in one direction. Therefore, the retina lacks appropriate focus. When this occurs, a particular portion of the object is in focus at a given time. The object appears fuzzy and undulating at any distance. Some individuals with astigmatism experience vision blurring rather than eye strain, while others experience both.
The curvature of the eye can alter over time, causing astigmatism to worsen or improve. If you have significant astigmatism, your vision may not be as sharp as it should be. Symptoms of astigmatism may be missed by children. Rarely do they report impaired or distorted vision. A adolescent with uncorrected astigmatism may struggle academically and athletically. Children should receive routine eye exams to detect astigmatism and other eye disorders. Some eye exams can detect astigmatism and other vision issues as early as feasible.
Astigmatism and other refractive errors influence how light refracts or bends in our eyes. Other refractive errors include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and presbyopia (difficulty focusing on near objects). Refractive errors are issues with how light bends (refracts) in the eyes.
Along with astigmatism, nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia) are common. Astigmatism affects approximately 30 percent of the global population. This percentage represents individuals over the age of 40, but anyone can develop this condition at any age. At birth, astigmatism can occur concurrently with nearsightedness or farsightedness. In most instances, no corrective action is required. In such circumstances, corrective lenses or surgery may be an option.
