If you have been told that you have astigmatism, you might want to know more about it. Astigmatism is an eye condition that affects vision and it is generally found during an eye exam by an eye doctor. In most cases, the patients who have it were born with it, though it can also develop later in life. Eye surgeries and injuries, as well as a few eye diseases, can cause astigmatism.
It's extremely common to have astigmatism, but not everyone who has it develops vision issues. For patients who do, there is a need for corrective lenses. When you need an eye doctor for sports vision, astigmatism, or other eye issues, contact Christensen Eye Care in Dodge City for your next eye exam.
Astigmatism and Your Eye Shape
If an eyeball were the perfect shape, it would be perfectly round. When it's round, light can enter the eye and is bent evenly for vision that is crisp and clear. However, not all eyes are perfectly round. Many are shaped more like a football. This shape causes light to become bent unevenly and can lead to problems focusing on more than one area. It can mean that objects that are far from you seem blurry and may be distorted or wavy. If you already have nearsightedness or farsightedness, it's common to also have astigmatism.
Signs of Astigmatism
Some people think that their blurry vision is only due to nearsightedness, but it may be due to both or simply to astigmatism. Distorted vision is a hallmark of this eye condition and blurriness often accompanies it. It can also cause chronic headaches, eye strain, and difficulty with night vision. If you have these symptoms, you may need vision correction from astigmatism.
Treating Astigmatism
Wearing glasses is a great way to correct vision that is affected by astigmatism, but patients may also be able to wear contact lenses. While soft contacts generally aren't possible for anyone with pronounced astigmatism because of the abnormal eye shape, toric lenses can be worn. These are contacts that were designed specifically to treat vision affected by astigmatism. They help with the abnormal eye shape by staying rigidly in place and allowing for clearer vision.
Contact Our Optometrist in Dodge City, KS
Whether you need treatment for astigmatism, sports vision, or other eye health issues, call our eye doctor in Dodge City for quality eye care. Call Christensen Eye Care today at (620) 227-5433 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.