Diagnosing Astigmatism and Treatment Options

Being diagnosed with astigmatism can sound scary, but it’s actually a relatively common eye condition that carries plenty of treatment options; some of these options can include specially made eyeglasses and contact lenses.  In severe cases, some patients may even opt to undergo surgery to correct their astigmatism.

Astigmatism can be caused when the eye ball itself isn’t totally round.  This creates refractive issues within the eye, as the light enters the eye differently than if the eye ball was a sphere.  If the eye (cornea actually) is shaped more like a football than a baseball, then vision will be blurry for distance and near as light becomes difficult to focus clearly.

To determine if you have astigmatism, be sure to see your ophthalmologist,  so he can measure your astigmatism using routine ophthalmic instruments.

While the exact cause of astigmatism is not known, fortunately, there are numerous treatment options available.  These include the following:

Corrective eyeglasses: Prescription eyeglasses can help bend light in a proper direction, which ensures that your eyesight won’t be blurred.

Corrective contact lenses: Like with eyeglasses, special contact lenses, known as toric lenses, can help bend light in the right direction once it hits your eyes.  Your ophthalmologist will perform tests to determine which prescription is right for you.

Corrective surgery:  Refractive or laser surgery can be used to change the shape of the cornea.  Again, your ophthalmologist will recommend which corrective surgery procedure is right for your astigmatism. In rare cases of irregular astigmatism caused by corneal scarring, corneal transplant surgery can often help. 

In order to effectively diagnose your astigmatism, it’s important to schedule regular exams with your ophthalmologist. At the Center for Ophthalmology and Laser Surgery – serving the greater Fort Lauderdale, FL and surrounding Florida areas – Dr. Loeffler and his staff members are dedicated to protecting your ocular health against astigmatism.  Schedule an appointment with Dr. Loeffler today to learn more about astigmatism and your treatment options. (954) 786-5353