Categories: Eye Care

What Is Astigmatism?

Any irregularities with the shape of your eye can lead to refractive errors, such as astigmatism. Today, Downtown Eyes discusses this problem in detail.

Cause and Common Symptoms

Astigmatism occurs when your eye is irregularly shaped or curved. As a result, you may experience blurry vision when looking at near- or far-placed objects. You may also see some distorted areas across your visual field. Headaches, eye strain and nausea are common, as well.

Risk Factors

Heredity is a major risk factor for astigmatism’s development. This refractive error usually develops during childhood, which is why it’s important to have regular eye exams. Your eye doctor explains that it may also develop as a complication after an eye injury, eye surgery or an eye disease.

Management Options We Offer

We will first perform a comprehensive eye exam to assess your eyes’ light-focusing abilities. We may also measure your current visual acuity and evaluate the size and shape of your cornea or lens. The test findings will serve as our basis when creating your treatment plan.

Standard astigmatism correction usually involves wearing toric eyeglasses or contact lenses, which have a sliced-donut shape to improve your visual acuity. Your eye doctor or optometrist may also evaluate if you’re a good candidate for LASIK.

Call us today at (612) 333-EYES (3937) or complete our form to learn more about astigmatism. We serve Minneapolis and the surrounding MN areas.

Dr. Mary Ann Zastrow

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