What is Astigmatism? - Better Ways to Correct Astigmatism
What is astigmatism? Astigmatism is a medical term for a blurred vision that is caused by the irregular curve of the cornea.
In this condition light rays will enter the eye not in the right focus on the retina, creating a blurred image.
In simple words, astigmatism is an image distortion that is caused by improper shape of the cornea.
There are two types of astigmatism: corneal astigmatism that is caused by an irregular shape of the cornea and lenticular astigmatism which is caused by an irregular shape of the lens.
What causes astigmatism? In corneal astigmatism, the light that comes into the cornea does not refract properly causing the retina receive an imperfect image.
In lenticular astigmatism, the irregular shape of the lenses is responsible for the imperfect images that reach the back of the eye (retina).
What are the symptoms of astigmatism? The most common symptoms of astigmatism are blurred or distorted image at short or long distance, sensitivity to light, headaches, eye squints (as an attempt to see an object more clearly), eye strain (when eye is forced to focus for a long period).
How astigmatism is diagnosed? Your ophthalmologist or optometrist may use the following tools to examine your vision with: * Visual test which involves reading letters on a chart.
Optician may suspect that you have astigmatism if you see the letters become progressively smaller on each line.
* Astigmatic dial chart which shows a series of semi-circle lines.
People with astigmatism will not see the lines equally clear.
* Ophthalmometer, an instrument for measuring the reflection of an image on the surface of the cornea and other capacities of the eye, to determine the degree of astigmatism.
* Keratoscope (Placido's disk) : an ophthalmic instrument to assess the shape the anterior surface of the cornea.
If a patient is suffering from astigmatism, the reflection of a series of concentric rings that are projected onto the cornea are seen distorted.
What are the treatments for astigmatism ? Corrective lenses Corrective eye glasses or contact lenses are used to bend the coming light rays to correct the faulty refraction so that the images will be received properly by the retina.
However, corrective lenses cannot cure astigmatism.
People who wear glasses or contacts often need stronger prescriptions year after year.
Laser eye surgery (PRK, LASEK or LASIK) In eye surgery, the doctor will remove cornea and make it into a proper shape, then he will put the cornea back into the eye.
Patients may feel pain and discomfort for a certain of period and need sometime for the eye to recover and won't be stabilize for over a month.
One thing that you have to consider: eye surgery is expensive and can cause scar tissue that is not guaranteed will disappear.
Scar tissue usually will be less flexible than normal tissue, leaving it to become disable to adjust to different circumstances.
Considering the above, now we come to a question: is there any other option to correct astigmatism? The answer is, you still have a chance to correct astigmatism and have the flexibility of your eye muscles.
When your relieve rigidity in and around your eyes, the lens and muscles, the components of your eye will work in harmony to create better clarity.
Allowing the eye to try to repair itself is certainly a preferable option.
Through eye exercises and therapy, you will learn to develop visual skills you need to correct astigmatism.
* Vision therapy and eye exercise are very beneficial to treat astigmatism as well as other eyesight conditions such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and presbyopia (old-age blur) without the use of eye glasses / contact lenses or eye surgery.
This method is designed to re-educates the eyes and mind about the habits of seeing clearly and naturally.
The program includes eye exercises, eye relaxing therapy, far and near training eye-charts that are easy to follow.
Many have claimed that this method is effective to improve their vision in a safe and inexpensive way.
In this condition light rays will enter the eye not in the right focus on the retina, creating a blurred image.
In simple words, astigmatism is an image distortion that is caused by improper shape of the cornea.
There are two types of astigmatism: corneal astigmatism that is caused by an irregular shape of the cornea and lenticular astigmatism which is caused by an irregular shape of the lens.
What causes astigmatism? In corneal astigmatism, the light that comes into the cornea does not refract properly causing the retina receive an imperfect image.
In lenticular astigmatism, the irregular shape of the lenses is responsible for the imperfect images that reach the back of the eye (retina).
What are the symptoms of astigmatism? The most common symptoms of astigmatism are blurred or distorted image at short or long distance, sensitivity to light, headaches, eye squints (as an attempt to see an object more clearly), eye strain (when eye is forced to focus for a long period).
How astigmatism is diagnosed? Your ophthalmologist or optometrist may use the following tools to examine your vision with: * Visual test which involves reading letters on a chart.
Optician may suspect that you have astigmatism if you see the letters become progressively smaller on each line.
* Astigmatic dial chart which shows a series of semi-circle lines.
People with astigmatism will not see the lines equally clear.
* Ophthalmometer, an instrument for measuring the reflection of an image on the surface of the cornea and other capacities of the eye, to determine the degree of astigmatism.
* Keratoscope (Placido's disk) : an ophthalmic instrument to assess the shape the anterior surface of the cornea.
If a patient is suffering from astigmatism, the reflection of a series of concentric rings that are projected onto the cornea are seen distorted.
What are the treatments for astigmatism ? Corrective lenses Corrective eye glasses or contact lenses are used to bend the coming light rays to correct the faulty refraction so that the images will be received properly by the retina.
However, corrective lenses cannot cure astigmatism.
People who wear glasses or contacts often need stronger prescriptions year after year.
Laser eye surgery (PRK, LASEK or LASIK) In eye surgery, the doctor will remove cornea and make it into a proper shape, then he will put the cornea back into the eye.
Patients may feel pain and discomfort for a certain of period and need sometime for the eye to recover and won't be stabilize for over a month.
One thing that you have to consider: eye surgery is expensive and can cause scar tissue that is not guaranteed will disappear.
Scar tissue usually will be less flexible than normal tissue, leaving it to become disable to adjust to different circumstances.
Considering the above, now we come to a question: is there any other option to correct astigmatism? The answer is, you still have a chance to correct astigmatism and have the flexibility of your eye muscles.
When your relieve rigidity in and around your eyes, the lens and muscles, the components of your eye will work in harmony to create better clarity.
Allowing the eye to try to repair itself is certainly a preferable option.
Through eye exercises and therapy, you will learn to develop visual skills you need to correct astigmatism.
* Vision therapy and eye exercise are very beneficial to treat astigmatism as well as other eyesight conditions such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and presbyopia (old-age blur) without the use of eye glasses / contact lenses or eye surgery.
This method is designed to re-educates the eyes and mind about the habits of seeing clearly and naturally.
The program includes eye exercises, eye relaxing therapy, far and near training eye-charts that are easy to follow.
Many have claimed that this method is effective to improve their vision in a safe and inexpensive way.
