Last Updated on November 17, 2025 by Aaron Barriga
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common eye problem where the eyeball isn’t perfectly round. It may be slightly football-shaped or look like the back of a spoon instead, which can cause blurry vision. In a normal eye, the cornea and lens work together to focus light rays evenly, ensuring clear vision. However, an irregularly shaped cornea or lens can cause it to bend more in one direction. Since light doesn’t focus on the retina properly, objects may seem blurry, wavy, or out of focus, especially at a distance.
What are the Types of Astigmatism?
There are 3 types of Astigmatism:
- Myopic Astigmatism– One or both central meridians of the eye are nearsighted. If both the meridians are nearsighted, they are myopic in varying degrees.
- Hyperopic Astigmatism– One or both central meridians are far-sighted.
- Mixed Astigmatism– One central meridian is nearsighted and the other is farsighted.
Astigmatism can also be categorized as regular and irregular. Regular Astigmatism is when the central meridians are 90 degrees away (vertical to each other). In irregular astigmatism, the central meridians are not vertical to each other. It is either a result of an eye injury that has scarred the cornea or keratoconus, a disease that causes a gradual tapering of the cornea, or the aftermath of eye surgery. Most people have corneal astigmatism, which gives the anterior surface of the eye an oval shape. Additionally, there’s another type of astigmatism called lenticular astigmatism, which occurs due to irregularities in the shape of the eye lens rather than the cornea.
Also Read – Astigmatism Severity Scale
What are the symptoms of Astigmatism?
Astigmatism symptoms:
- Distorted or blurred vision to some level at all distances
- Eyestrain
- difficulty in viewing at night due to astigmatism lights
- headaches, especially after reading or doing any visual task for an extended period.
- Squinting is another symptom that is commonly seen
Also Read – Astigmatism in Children
What are the Causes of Astigmatism?
- Irregular shape of the cornea – For many people, astigmatism is simply something they are born with. The cornea naturally develops with an irregular curve, and this shape remains stable throughout life.
- Genetic Factors – Astigmatism often runs in families. If parents or siblings have astigmatism, there is a higher chance of developing it due to inherited corneal characteristics.
- Eye Injury or Trauma – Any injury that changes the shape of the cornea, such as scratches, scars, or blunt trauma, can cause or worsen astigmatism.
- Eye surgeries – Some eye surgeries, especially those involving the cornea (like cataract surgery or older refractive procedures), can alter corneal curvature and lead to astigmatism.
- Keratoconus and Other Corneal Diseases – Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease where the cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped. This creates irregular astigmatism that cannot be corrected with glasses and often requires specialized treatment like custom lenses or corneal cross-linking.
- Corneal Thinning or Degeneration – Certain conditions that weaken or thin the cornea can cause it to bulge or warp, leading to astigmatism over time.
- Excessive Eye Rubbing – Frequent, forceful eye rubbing can distort the corneal shape and is linked with conditions like keratoconus, increasing the risk of astigmatism.
How Is Astigmatism Diagnosed?
Astigmatism is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The evaluation typically includes the following tests:
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- Visual Acuity Test – Measures how clearly you can see at different distances to detect signs of blurry or distorted vision caused by astigmatism.
- Refraction Test – Determines your exact lens prescription by identifying the lens power needed to correct astigmatism and other refractive errors.
- Keratometry – Measures the curvature of your cornea, helping detect uneven steepness or flattening that indicates astigmatism.
- Slit-Lamp Examination – Allows the doctor to examine the cornea, lens, and other eye structures closely to identify abnormalities contributing to astigmatism.
- Corneal Topography – Creates a detailed, color-coded 3D map of the cornea, revealing the exact location, shape, and severity of astigmatism.
Treatment options for Astigmatism
Let’s look at the common methods on how to correct astigmatism:
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Corrective Lenses
Eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct vision problems caused by moderate cases of the condition. Single-vision glasses with a cylindrical lens provide additional power in specific parts of the lens for clear vision at all distances, but bifocal or progressive addition lenses may be prescribed if you’re over 40. Your eye doctor may prescribe special soft contact lenses that bend light in the correct direction, but you may need gas-permeable rigid contact lenses if you have severe symptoms. However, both glasses and lenses can be uncomfortable and inconvenient for many people, and neither can correct astigmatism completely.
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LASIK Surgery
LASIK, or laser in situ keratomileusis, is a form of laser eye surgery conducted to remove the underlying flap of the cornea. It corrects vision by refracting or bending light entering the eye and is often preferred over other refractive surgeries since it only removes tissue from the inner layer of the cornea. In the past, LASIK was considered ineffective for correcting astigmatism completely. However, with modern advances in technology and eye refractive surgery methods, this laser-guided treatment can also treat astigmatism as well as other vision problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, eliminating the need for glasses or contacts.
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Other Options
Astigmatism may also be treated with orthokeratology, or ortho-k, where a series of rigid contact lenses are fitted over the eye to reshape the cornea. You need to wear these retainer lenses for a specified period of time, usually overnight, before removing them. Ortho-k can improve vision in moderate cases, but only if you continue wearing the lenses. If you stop wearing them, your vision can return to its original condition. Other options include photorefractive keratectomy or PRK, a form of eye surgery where tissue is removed from the cornea’s superficial and inner layers.
Today, LASIK is one of the most popular choices for permanent and practically painless vision correction. Of course, the right treatment choice depends upon the degree of astigmatism, health of your retina and cornea, as well as your lifestyle and vision needs. Your eye doctor can help you choose what’s right.
Professional Astigmatism Diagnosis at InSight Vision Center
At InSight Vision Center in Fresno, CA, expert eye doctors provide a thorough and advanced eye diagnosis for astigmatism. We use cutting-edge technology, including corneal topography, wavefront mapping, keratometry, and slit-lamp exams to precisely measure corneal curvature, assess overall eye health, and identify the exact type and severity of astigmatism. This detailed diagnostic process helps us create a personalized treatment plan, which may include glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK, depending on your vision needs.
Ready for sharper vision? Schedule your FREE LASIK evaluation for Astigmatism.
Dr. Azhar I. Salahuddin is an ophthalmologist and is fellowship-trained in cornea, external diseases, and refractive surgery. Dr. Salahuddin has been performing cataract surgery for over 19 years and specializes ocular reconstruction, corneal transplantation surgery as well as vision correction through a variety of intraocular lenses. Dr. Salahuddin is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and was trained at Boston University.
