So many people are curious about this thing called Astigmatism. Our eyes are all shaped differently, some are round like a basketball and others are curved a little more oval like an egg. People with “round-shaped” eyes may see clearly at all distances which is known as emmetropia or they can be nearsighted, myopia, or they can be farsighted, hyperopia. The “oval-shaped” eyes have astigmatism. Presbyopia means we are over 40 to 45 years of age and have difficulty reading at close ranges.
If we are nearsighted, we see well at near distances. Our eyes are longer than the optimal range for light to cast an image on the retina in the back of the eye. Glasses or contact lenses will make the images look smaller and focus the light rays passing through our eyes onto the retina.
If we are farsighted, we see better at further distances. Our eyes are too short. Hyperopic glasses and contact lenses magnify images and focus the light rays onto the retina.
Patients with astigmatism may view images to be blurry at all distances. Objects can appear shadowed or double in extreme cases. Most people have a combination of farsightedness and astigmatism or nearsightedness and astigmatism.
Over the age of 40, the muscles inside our eyes that focus the intraocular lens get weaker. These muscles get progressively weaker with age. This is when we begin needing bifocals or progressive lenses. The top portion of the glasses is used for viewing far away and the bottom portion is for viewing close-up. Bifocal contact lenses are also an option for these patients.
Most cases of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia can be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses. Some cases require the use of “hard” contact lenses because the front surface of the eye is too irregular for glasses to correct the vision.
It is important to understand that these are not diseases. The sooner we catch the vision problem, the sooner we can see more clearly. Remember children as young as six months of age can need correct glasses. In severe cases of vision problems, if the problem is not treated early enough, it can lead to a loss of vision.
Annual eye examinations are recommended to monitor for any changes in vision. Mild changes in vision can lead to headaches, eye fatigue, and general discomfort.
Please call 20/20 Optometric Eye Care in Valencia if you have any questions at 661-287-3939.