Do you wish you could have crystal-clear vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses? Learn about LASIK and LESA™, two surgical procedures that may reduce or eliminate your need for corrective lenses.
Nearsightedness and farsightedness are two common conditions that can affect your vision. Quite simply, nearsightedness means you need help seeing things in the distance, and farsightedness means you need help seeing things that are close.
Astigmatism is another common condition that we often see at Advanced Laser & Eye Center of Arizona, home of MyEyesToday.com. It can also affect how you see, but it differs from nearsightedness and farsightedness in a few ways. Here, we explain more about it and describe its warning signs.
Astigmatism develops when changes occur in the shape of your eye’s cornea or lens. The cornea is the transparent layer in the front of your eye, and the lens is the part of your eye that is in charge of focus.
Changes in the shape of your lens or cornea affect how light enters your eye, which can alter the images you see. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error, which means it affects how light is refracted, or bent, as it enters your eyes.
Astigmatism is fairly common, affecting about one-third of people.
Astigmatism can affect you in a variety of ways. Some of the common warning signs of astigmatism include:
Having trouble seeing and focusing — either on things that are close or far away — can be a sign of astigmatism. However, astigmatism doesn’t always cause obvious problems with your vision. You can have the condition and not know it.
Any kind of vision problem can cause headaches, because your brain must work harder to decipher images. Don’t ignore headaches, because they could be a sign of various kinds of vision issues or other health problems.
Even if you think you can see fairly well, astigmatism could cause your eyes to work harder than they need to. This strain can lead to fatigue.
When you can’t see clearly, you may squint to improve your focus. You may even squint without realizing you’re doing it.
You may be able to see fine during the day, but astigmatism can interfere with your night vision. Trouble seeing at night can make it harder for you to drive.
If astigmatism affects your vision in one or both eyes, treatment options include eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Here at Advanced Laser & Eye Center of Arizona, we specialize in advanced procedures such as LASIK and PRK as well as LESA™. These procedures can permanently eliminate your astigmatism.
A comprehensive eye exam can uncover astigmatism and other refractory errors. A professional exam is the only way to determine for sure if your symptoms are caused by astigmatism, another refractive error, or some other type of condition.
If you’re experiencing warning signs of astigmatism or any other vision problems, we’d like to help. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam. Call the office nearest you — in Gilbert, Chandler, and Queen Creek, Arizona — or book an appointment online. We also offer services through our mobile eye clinic.
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