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Astigmatism is a common vision problem. It is cause by a defect in the shape of the cornea. In the case of astigmatism, the lens of the eye or the cornea has an irregular curve. This can alter the way light passes, or refracts, to your retina. This causes blurry and distorted vision. If you are suffering from Astigmatism or any other eye disorder, you must reach out to the well-known hospitals for the best eye treatment In Hyderabad. To know more about Astigmatism: Symptoms and Treatment, let us check out the article below.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is the most common refractive error when it comes to problems with vision. It affects nearly two-thirds of the population. There are two major types of astigmatism such as Corneal and Lenticular. According to other classification there are three primary types of astigmatism.
• Myopic Astigmatism – In this of astigmatism, one or both principal meridians of the eye are nearsighted.
• Hyperopic Astigmatism – This is a case of astigmatism in which one or both principal meridians are farsighted.
• Mixed Astigmatism – In this type of astigmatism, one prinicipal meridian is nearsighted, and the other is farsighted.
What Causes Astigmatism?
The exact cause of astigmatism is not known but genetics is a big factor. According to the doctors, it is often present at birth, but it may develop later in life. It may also result from an injury to the eye or even after eye surgery. And, similar to every single eye condition, astigmatism only gets worse over time. This is because the astigmatism changes angle. And, without glasses or contact lenses, it only becomes worse.
Who is at Risk for Astigmatism?
Astigmatism can occur in adults as well as children. Your risk of developing astigmatism may be higher if you have any of the following such as:-
• Family history of astigmatism or any other eye disorders, such as degeneration of the cornea
• Scarring or thinning of your cornea
• Excessive nearsightedness which leads to blurry vision at a distance
• A history of certain types of eye surgery, such as cataract surgery
Astigmatism Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of astigmatism may differ in each person. Some people may not have any symptoms at all. The symptoms of astigmatism include:-
• Blurry, distorted, or fuzzy vision up close and far away
• Difficulty seeing during the night
• Eyestrain and squinting
• Eye irritation and headaches
How is Astigmatism Diagnosed?
An ophthalmologist diagnoses astigmatism and different types of eye related diseases through a comprehensive eye examination. There are several tests perform by the ophthalmologists to diagnose astigmatism such as:-
Refraction Test
A refraction test is perform with the help of a machine call an optical refractor. It has multiple corrective glass lenses of different strengths. You will be ask to read a chart while looking through lenses that are of different strengths on the optical refractor. Eventually, your doctor will find a lens that appropriately corrects your vision.
Keratometry
Keratometry is a diagnosis test perform by your doctor to measure the curvature of your cornea. The medical professional will do this by viewing at your eye through the Keratometer.
Astigmatism Treatment
In most of the cases, the mild cases of astigmatism may not require treatment. However, your doctor can effectively treat astigmatism that causes vision problems by using one of the following methods.
Corrective lenses
Corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses may be prescribed by a doctor. These are the most common and least invasive treatments for astigmatism.
Orthokeratology
It is a treatment method that uses rigid contact lenses to temporarily correct the irregular curvature of your cornea. You will be recommended to wear rigid contact lenses for limited periods of time. You can even wear them during sleep and remove them during the day time.
Some people have clear vision without corrective lenses when undergoing Ortho-K. The benefits of Ortho-K are only present when using it, and your vision will return to its previous state after stopping Ortho-K.
Surgery
Your doctor may recommend refractive surgery if you have a severe case of astigmatism. This surgery is performed using lasers or small knives to reshape your cornea. This will permanently correct your astigmatism.
The three common surgeries for astigmatism are LASIK, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), and Radial Keratotomy (RK). All surgeries carry some or the other risks. Therefore, you must talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits before undergoing surgery for astigmatism.
Laser surgery is an excellent option for the treatment of astigmatism but comes with risks. Some people with astigmatism can be effectively treated with laser eye surgery. To perform LASIK, the doctor uses a device called a keratome to make a thin, round hinged cut into the cornea. The surgeon lifts the flap and the laser sculpts the shape of the cornea under the flap. LASIK causes less pain than the other procedures. And, the patient will recover their vision within a few days.
Who should avoid Laser Surgery?
The procedure of Laser eye surgery may not be suitable if:
• The patient is aged under 18 years.
• The vision is still changing, for example, in older people. Vision should be stable for at least a year before laser surgery.
• The patient has diabetes. This is because the surgery may worsen abnormalities in the eye caused by diabetes.
• A woman is pregnant or breast-feeding. Because, fluctuating hormones may cause the result to be inaccurate.
• The person has an immune condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or HIV. Since, it may be harder to recover after surgery.
• The person has another existing eye condition, as these will need to be treated first.
Astigmatism is not a highly serious eye disorder but in some of the cases it might require a proper surgical treatment. Therefore, it is important to follow ways to improve eye health. However, if you suffer from a severe eye disorder, you must consult an eye specialist.