Astigmatism

What causes astigmatism?

Astigmatism is usually hereditary, meaning it is a condition passed down by biological parents to their children. It can also be caused by excessive pressure of the eyelids on the cornea.

If you see blurry images both near and far, and objects have a ‘shadow’ or appear distorted – this is most likely astigmatism.
The reason lies in the irregular shape of the cornea, which prevents light from focusing accurately.

Astigmatism is usually not caused by health problems.

The reason lies in the irregular shape of the cornea or the eye lens. Instead of being perfectly round like a soccer ball, they are more oval-shaped like a rugby ball. This prevents light from focusing on a single point on the retina, scattering it across multiple points.

Some conditions and problems that can cause astigmatism include:

• Eye injuries.
• Keratoconus.
• Complications after eye surgery.

Important to know: Astigmatism is not a disease but a refractive error that modern medicine successfully corrects with ‘cylindrical’ glasses, toric contact lenses, or laser correction.

 Synonyms: Blurry/defocused vision, Astigmatic refraction, Corneal curvature, Eye cylinder