Astigmatism- what is it? Astigmatism is actually the most common form of vision problem, and most people have it to a certain degree. How would you know if you are suffering from this particular kind of eye condition? It can be that you would not be able to notice symptoms at all, or perhaps minimally, such as slight blurred vision. As much as astigmatism symptoms may be minimal or undetected, correction measures are better employed. It’s because uncorrected astigmatism can lead to further symptoms such as headaches and eyestrain. These cause distorted or blurred vision at all distances. That’s why this condition may accompany nearsightedness or farsightedness.
What causes this eye problem, on the other hand? An irregularly shaped cornea is often responsible for astigmatism, or for others, it is a matter of defect in the shape of the lens. The lens is located behind the cornea. Means of correcting this eye problem is through eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. On the subject of contact lenses as corrective measure for astigmatism, you have to be mindful. In the sense that you ought to resort to the most suitable kind. An appointment with an ophthalmologist is the most preferred recourse to obtain the proper information. Contact lenses for astigmatism can be effective provided you’ve made use of that which suits you best, or your condition for that matter.
Certain types of contact lenses would prove to be ineffective for astigmatism. For instance, the regular, soft kind of contacts. They would not properly address this vision condition. There are contacts which are of the toric kind, and this is a recommended corrective device. Toric contact lenses are made of the same material as spherical contacts. Toric contact lenses can either be soft or RGP. The difference between these two depends on how the lenses are made. Some patients prefer using RGP toric contact lenses over the soft kind. The rigid lenses of RGP contacts retain their shape better on the cornea.
Thus, they provide crispier vision for astigmatic people. Other than the functionality of toric contact lenses, your looks can also be enhanced with this vision device. Torics are available in varied colors, so you can enhance or change your natural eye color with these contacts. Some toric contact lenses are disposable, but it is preferable that you use the non-disposable sort with a conventional replacement schedule. It may cost you a bit but consider that you are investing for better vision and well-being. Not only adults can be astigmatic, but children as well. In this regard, taking your child to the ophthalmologist for an eye exam is essential.
It is important that astigmatism is detected and corrected among children. This vision irregularity can affect the child’s ability to see well, especially in school, or in sports. Astigmatism is usually hereditary. When the resulting vision problem is neglected, it may get worse over time. It is only necessary then that astigmatism be detected early on, and corrective measures employed. Vision problems or irregularities are much of an inconvenience (to say the least) when left uncorrected.