Of the many eye conditions, one of the most common is the astigmatism. According to a recent study, astigmatisms affect more than 28% of children between the ages of 5 and 17. Astigmatisms can cause blurry vision and headaches because of the way light interacts with the cornea.

Vision & The Consequences of Astigmatisms

When light passes through to the retina, it is received by the optic nerve, which sends those messages to the brain. The brain then translates those messages back as images, creating vision. Headaches and blurry vision occur when the cornea or lens (transparent front cover of the eye) is unable to focus light to the back of the eye (retina) due to the irregular elliptical shape of the cornea. Referred to as a refractive error, the blurry vision occurs when light inside the eye creates multiple focal points instead of just one.

How Are Astigmatisms Diagnosed?

Astigmatisms are detected during a comprehensive eye exam from a professional eye doctor at our local Austin and Kyle, TX ophthalmology practice. During this exam you will be given eye drops that help dilate your eyes, enabling your pupils to become enlarged. The enlarged pupils make it easier for your eye doctor to examine the back of your eye and observe how it reacts to light. It is very important to schedule an eye exam every one to two years so that your eye doctor can ensure that you maintain optimal eye health.

What Are the Treatments for Astigmatisms?

The good news is that there are treatments to combat astigmatisms. A few temporary treatments for astigmatisms include contact lenses and prescription eyeglasses. However, there is also a more permanent solution, LASIK corrective eye surgery. The state-of-the-art lasers that LASIK eye surgeons use can help reshape the cornea, eliminating the astigmatism altogether and allowing for clear vision. There are a few requirements that make a patient eligible for LASIK:

  • Patients must be at least 18 years or older (ideally, over 21 when vision is more stable)
  • Their lens prescription must not have changed within the last year
  • The refractive error must be one that can be treated with LASIK
  • Patient corneas must be healthy, and their overall eye health must be generally good

Schedule Your Free Eye Consultation Today

At Howerton Eye, we pride ourselves in providing exceptional and comprehensive vision care to Austin and Kyle, TX, as well as the surrounding communities. If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors for a general eye exam, or see if LASIK corrective eye surgery is a good fit for you, contact us today. We hope to hear from you soon!