Astigmatism is a common eye condition that we treat regularly in our Envision practices at Burleigh and Tweed. It affects millions of people globally, leading to blurred or distorted vision. It arises due to an imperfection in the curvature of the cornea or lens of the eye. Ideally, the cornea and lens should have a perfectly round shape, much like a basketball. However, in astigmatism, these surfaces are more akin to a rugby ball's shape—more curved in one direction than the other.
This difference in curvature refracts the light entering your eye unevenly, leading to distortion or blurring of the images your brain perceives. Instead of a single focus point, your eye with astigmatism has multiple focus points either in front of or behind the retina, or both, resulting in less than perfect vision.
Astigmatism can occur alongside other refractive errors that you may experience, like myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). This eye condition is typically present from birth but can also develop over time due to factors such as eye injury, disease, or surgery.
The main symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision or difficulty seeing fine details, both at a distance and up close. It might also cause eye strain, headaches, and squinting. These symptoms can interfere with your daily tasks like reading or driving, especially at night.
Diagnosis of astigmatism involves a comprehensive eye examination. We use various tests like visual acuity assessment, careful measurement of your prescription, DNeye wavefront analysis and corneal topography to measure the curvature of your cornea and the lens, to help identify the presence and extent of any astigmatism. 
Astigmatism is treatable, and the treatment usually depends on the severity and underlying cause. Corrective eyewear, like glasses or contact lenses, is the most common treatment. They compensate for the uneven curvature of your cornea or lens and will redirect the light to the correct focus point on the retina. For people who prefer not to wear eyewear, refractive surgery such as LASIK might be an option, and we can arrange the necessary referrals to specialists. This surgery reshapes your cornea, effectively smoothing it out to a more regular shape.
As outlined above, astigmatism is quite a prevalent and generally treatable eye condition. With regular eye check-ups you can ensure early detection and effective management of astigmatism, keeping your vision clear and your eyes in top shape. Be sure to schedule your routine comprehensive consultation with our team at Envision, to monitor your eye health and address any potential issues as soon as they arise. Please feel free to call us anytime, we're here to help you and your family.