The shape of your cornea affects your vision. In people with 20/20 vision, the cornea is curved, with a smooth surface. Any irregularities to your cornea’s form may result in refractive errors, including astigmatism. In today’s post, your expert eye doctor from NOVA Vision Center discusses explains what astigmatism is and how it impacts your eyesight:
Root Cause and Typical Manifestations
If your cornea has an uneven surface or is irregularly curved, you may develop astigmatism. This refractive error can compromise your ability to see both close- and distant-range objects clearly. Faces may appear blurry, wavy, or distorted. You may also experience symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and eyestrain.
Common Risk Factors
Astigmatism often runs in the family, so if either of your parents has the condition, you may be at a higher risk. It often develops during childhood, which is why it’s so important to visit your trusted optometrist on a regular basis throughout early childhood and adolescence. Astigmatism can also develop as a result of complications from eye disease, injury, or surgery.
Our Suggested Management
We will first perform a comprehensive eye exam to check your visual acuity. This will also help establish the severity of your astigmatism. During the exam, we’ll assess the surface, shape, and size of your cornea and lens. We will then create a treatment plan based on your test results.
We often correct astigmatism through toric lenses that can be fitted for your eyeglasses or contact lenses. These lenses feature a sliced donut form, which helps compensate for the structural infirmities of your cornea, allowing you to see objects at varying distances clearly. We can also evaluate whether you are a good candidate for LASIK or other refractive surgeries.
Call us today at (703) 291-0080 or complete our form to learn more about astigmatism. We serve Alexandria and Arlington, VA.