Astigmatism: Symptoms, Causes and contact lenses to wear

What Is Astigmatism?

When this condition occurs, light doesn’t focus evenly on the retina. When light enters the attention when astigmatism is present, the image looks stretched and blurry. this is often because astigmatism causes the cornea to possess more of a football shape than a baseball shape. Some areas of the cornea are more rounded or steeper than others, making it less symmetrical.

Adults and youngsters can develop astigmatism. When the condition is slight, it’s possible to not experience obvious symptoms and vision changes. In some cases, people don’t know they need astigmatism until it’s noticed at an eye fixed examination.

Astigmatism is an error developed in the shape of the cornea/lens or just a slight imperfection in its shape. Usually, the shape of the cornea and lens are curved and are spread equally in all directions and they are generally smooth. This greatly helps to converge the light rays hitting the cornea and lens to focus them onto the retina which is located at the back of the eye. If the cornea or lens shape is slightly irregular and isn’t smooth then it will not be bent properly and in doctor’s terms, it’s known as refractive error. This causes people to have blurry, hazy, or distorted vision. Astigmatism varies concerning where it’s affected. If the shape of the cornea is irregular then it is termed “Corneal astigmatism” and if the lens shape is distorted then it is known as “Lenticular astigmatism”.

People suffering from myopia (near-sightedness) or hypermetropia (far-sightedness) can have astigmatism and are very common. Be it “Corneal astigmatism” or “Lenticular astigmatism”, in both cases the vision is distorted and has a wavy appearance and it might pose a problem in people’s normal lifestyle. The shape of the common object gets highly distorted and it may not appear normal, for example, a ground ball may appear ellipsoidal shape or a short object may appear as elongated.

Children affected with astigmatism don’t know that they have astigmatism until they start to experience blurriness in the vision. Astigmatism can be generally hereditary and may affect people from their birth. The condition can decrease or progressively worsen over time. If a person starts to get blurriness or change in the shape of objects in their vision they should immediately get checked with the eye doctor and the doctor may recommend glasses or contact lens which alters the path of light.

Symptoms of Astigmatism:

• Distorted or blurry vision.
• Headaches
• •Squinting to undertake and see more clearly.
• • Discomfort or eyestrain.
• • The trouble with night-sight.
• There are three primary sorts of refractive error.
• • Hyperopic astigmatism means there’s farsightedness in one or both of the principal meridians.
• • Myopic astigmatism means there’s nearsightedness in one or both of the principal meridians.
• • Mixed astigmatism means there’s farsightedness in one principal meridian and nearsightedness within the other.

It is possible to possess astigmatism alongside another refractive error, like farsightedness and nearsightedness.

Refractive surgery and corrective lenses are the treatment options for astigmatism. People that like better to avoid surgery but don’t want to wear eyeglasses can choose contact lenses.

Causes of Astigmatism

As previously stated, astigmatism can be related to family genetics or it can also get it after an accident to an eye or after eye disease, or surgery. The cornea/lens is known to bend the path of light which comes into the eye. To focus that ray of light accurately on the retina, the cornea lens has to be smooth and perfect in shape. So, the object can be seen clearly. However, in astigmatism, the shape of the cornea lens is not round and the ray of light doesn’t hit the retina in the required area, so the vision becomes wavy haziness, and blurry. Doctors haven’t exactly tried to find out why the shape of the cornea varies from individual to individual. 

Keratoconus, a rare condition can also be the main cause of astigmatism. In this, the cornea becomes thinner and more cone-shaped. This causes astigmatism to worsen over time and people may need contact lenses rather than eyeglasses to see things. Sometimes, they eventually need a corneal transplant.

Types of Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

There are different contact types that folks can evaluate to work out which can be the simplest for vision correction. The three commonest contact lenses for astigmatism include Toric, gas permeable, and hybrid lenses.

1. Toric contact lenses (soft)

Toric lenses are soft. In several meridians, they need different powers. They permit the lens to rotate thanks to their design. This ensures a clearer vision since the lens is in a position to align with the acceptable meridians. Compared to a daily soft lens, it can require more expertise to make sure a correct fit with toric lenses. People can also get to experiment with different designs and makes before they find the one that gives the simplest fit.

2. Gas permeable contact lenses

This type of lens doesn’t need a toric design to correct astigmatism in most cases. this is often thanks to the rigidity of the lenses that allow GP lenses to retain their spherical shape when on their eyes. this sort of lens features a uniform front surface that essentially “replaces” the person’s misshapen cornea. this enables for light to hit the retina during a way that ensures a clearer vision. There are GP lenses that have a toric design. However, unless someone has an unusual astigmatism type or a high level of astigmatism, GP lenses with a toric design aren’t usually necessary.

In most cases, GP contact lenses can correct astigmatism without a toric design. this is often possible because gas permeable lenses are rigid and retain their spherical shape on the attention, rather than conforming to the irregular shape of the cornea of an eye fixed with astigmatism like soft lenses do.

Fitting gas permeable contact lenses takes longer and expertise than fitting soft contact lenses (including toric soft lenses). and every RGP contact is custom-made to parameters specified by the prescribing eye care professional. For these reasons, getting fitted with gas permeable lenses typically costs quite getting fitted with soft lenses. the value of buying replacement GP lenses is higher.

3. Hybrid contact lenses

Hybrid lenses have a silicone hydrogel or a hydrogel fitting zone that surrounds a rigid gas permeable lens. They essentially provide the advantages of both gas permeable and toric lenses. sort of a toric lens, they’re soft and cosy. sort of a GP lens, they supply the sharp vision.

Hybrid lenses are approximately an equivalent size as a toric lens, but compared to GP lenses, the sides are thinner. This reduces the danger of lens dislodgement when someone is playing sports or engaging in similar activities.

It is important that these lenses are fitted properly. Once someone gets their hybrid lenses, they are doing not need to get replaced as often as soft lenses. this will be convenient and reduce replacement costs.

For some people that need contacts for astigmatism, hybrid contact lenses are the simplest choice. These lenses have a central zone made from a rigid gas permeable lens material, surrounded by a fitting zone (or “skirt”) made from a soft hydrogel or silicone hydrogel material.

Hybrid contact fittings and lens replacements are comparable in cost with those of rigid gas permeable lenses (in other words, costlier than soft lenses). But like GP lenses, hybrid contacts don’t get to get replaced as frequently as soft contacts, making lens replacement costs more like those of sentimental lenses over time.

4. A customized Choice

There are several options for people with astigmatism. ask your doctor about which option will work best for your eyes and your lifestyle.

If you’ve got astigmatism and need to wear contact lenses, visit an eye fixed doctor near you who focuses on fitting contact lenses for astigmatism.

During a comprehensive eye exam and get in touch with lens consultation, your doctor can advise you whether you’re an honest candidate for contact wear and which astigmatism-correcting contact lenses are best fitted to your specific needs.

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