What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism occurs when your eye is not entirely round. In truth, astigmatism is present in almost everyone, but it only leads to blurred vision when severe.
Think of your eye as a spherical ball. Usually, when light enters your eye it bends evenly. This creates a sharp image of what you see on the tissues at the back of your inner eye. However, if you have astigmatism, your eye is shaped more like an elliptical football. As a result, the light is not bent evenly and only one part of the picture is transmitted clearly and in focus.
Diagnosis & Treatment by Your Eye Doctor in Georgetown
If you experience problems with your vision, we invite you to book an eye exam at our Georgetown office. Our optometrist will inspect your vision and eyes to make a precise diagnosis and determine the most effective treatment. At Giddens Optometry, our Georgetown eye doctor is skilled and experienced in diagnosing and treating astigmatism, so that you experience crisp and clear vision.
What is a stigma?
Stigma refers to a type of refractive error known as astigmatism. There are three types of refractive error, myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The former two are more regularly referred to as nearsighted (poor distance vision) and farsighted (poor close-up vision). Astigmatism is the third category that affects both near and far vision at the same time. Much like nearsightedness or farsightedness, astigmatism is corrected using glasses or contacts.
Technically speaking, an eye with astigmatism requires two different prescriptions to correct vision in one eye due to the oval shape of the cornea. This generally requires specialized contact lenses and a more comprehensive fitting procedure.
To learn more or to correct any vision issues, book an appointment at Giddens Optometry in Georgetown today.
Frequently Asked Questions - Vision Care
Q: How does astigmatism affect reading fluency?
- A: Astigmatism can affect a child’s reading skills. If your child struggles to read, book an eye exam for your child today. Our eye doctors are here to help.
Q: What are Toric Contact Lenses?
- A: Toric contact lenses are designed to correct astigmatism, and are custom-made for a perfect fit. Unlike standard contact lenses which are perfectly spherical, toric lenses have a more oblong shape made to accommodate the shape of the astigmatic eye. While toric lenses can be made of either soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP or GP) lens material, soft toric lenses are the more common choice.