Introduction
Astigmatism, along with short-sightedness and long-sightedness, is a common cause of blurry vision. It's usually corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism means your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football, so light is focused at more than 1 place in the eye.
This can cause:
- blurred vision
- headaches
- eye strain (you may notice this after concentrating for a long time – on a computer, for example)
Astigmatism normally happens alongside short-sightedness ↗ or long-sightedness ↗.
Astigmatism in 1 eye may cause lazy eye ↗ (where the vision does not develop properly). It's important this is spotted early so it can be treated.
Regular eye tests for children
Take your child for regular eye tests ↗. Astigmatism, as well as short-sightedness or long-sightedness, may affect their reading or concentration.
Teenagers with astigmatism should also have regular eye tests to check for an eye condition called keratoconus. This causes the cornea to change shape.
Treatments for astigmatism
If astigmatism is affecting your eyesight, there are ways to correct it.
| Treatment | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Glasses |
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| Contact lenses |
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| Laser eye or lens surgery ↗ |
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