If an eye doctor has told you that you have astigmatism, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, one in three people in the United States have the condition to some degree. The following guide explains this eye problem in more depth, including your treatment options.

What Is Astigmatism?

The curvature of the cornea in a human eye allows the retina to focus on light rays. If it is not as round and smooth as it should be, it prevents the eyes from processing refracted light properly. Instead of hitting one point in the back of the eye, it reflects onto multiple places, resulting in blurred vision.

What Are the Symptoms?

Most often, this manifests in blurred vision. The condition can also majorly affect your depth perception, which gives you the ability to see in three dimensions and helps you understand how far away an object is. If you have astigmatism, you may misjudge the distance of objects or seem more clumsy.

Because of these vision struggles, you may also experience headaches and sensitivity to light, causing you to squint instinctively to see better.

What Treatments Are There? 

One common solution is to get prescription glasses tailored to your specific astigmatism. Specialty contact lenses, called toric lenses, are also useful for those with a less-severe form of astigmatism.

Your eye doctor may also let you know if you qualify for a LASIK® procedure. This involves using lasers to reshape the cornea and smooth out any irregularities.

Concerned about your blurred vision? Seek an eye exam with Dr. Matthew Lipparelli, OD of Elko, NV. Dr. Lipparelli, who is board certified in the treatment and management of ocular diseases, has been treating patients since 1990. He also offers a wide range of prescription glasses for patients to choose from. For more information about his offerings, visit the practice online. Call (775) 753-5353 to set an appointment.