Some may still wonder if they have astigmatism or not. Let's find the answer together.
Astigmatism
This is a refractive error of one type of light bending, where the shapes of the curved surfaces of the eye's lens are not perfectly symmetrical. In other words, it's an abnormality in the curvature of the eye's lens. In a normal eye, the lens is perfectly round, causing the incoming light to converge to a single focal point on the retina, resulting in clear vision. However, in astigmatism, the lens is shaped more like a rugby ball, causing light entering the eye to not converge at a single focal point but to focus on different points instead.
The result of this misconduct causes the light entering the eyes unable to converge at the focal point and instead diverge to different focal points with distances between them. This results in the vision not being in focus and the image formed on the retina will be blurred.
This leads to unclear vision both up close and far away, creating overlapping shadows, distorted and twisted images from reality. This condition may also occur with short-sightedness and long-sightedness.
The causes of astigmatism can be congenital or due to other factors such as
- Eye strain
- Scarring in the cornea due to infection or inflammation
- Eye injuries
- Post-operative trauma to the cornea
- Genetics
- Keratoconus, a condition where the cornea becomes cone-shaped
Astigmatism can be of two types: regular astigmatism and irregular astigmatism.
🟧 Regular astigmatism🟧
Regular astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has irregular curvature or shapes deviating from normal, such as a rugby ball or egg shape, either vertically, horizontally, or obliquely in only one direction. This type is commonly encountered and more prevalent than irregular astigmatism. It can be corrected by wearing glasses, contact lenses, or undergoing corrective eye surgery.
🟧 Irregular astigmatism 🟧
Irregular astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has irregular curvature or shapes deviating from normal, such as rugby ball or egg shape, both vertically, horizontally, or obliquely in multiple directions. It often results from traumatic injuries or impacts to the eye and cannot be corrected by wearing glasses, but can be managed with contact lenses or corrective eye surgery.
Warning signs that you may have astigmatism
1. Blurry vision Objects appear blurry and not sharply defined, regardless of distance. You may need to squint or blink frequently to try to see clearly.
2. Squinting to see Think of a camera lens that needs to be focused by adjusting the lens to make the incoming light clearer. Squinting works similarly by narrowing your eyelids to try to focus light to a single point, resulting in clearer vision.
3. Eye discomfort Frequent eye strain, eyebrow pain, tired eyes, and headaches can result from straining to see and squinting. Even if you consciously try not to squint, when your eyes have problems, your brain may force them to focus on things more clearly without your intention
4. Light sensitivity People with astigmatism often find it difficult to tolerate bright lights, sunlight, or glare. When exposed to sunlight or bright lights, they may forget to raise their eyebrows, leading to watery eyes. This is because individuals with astigmatism have multiple focal points in their eyes, causing the lenses to receive more light than necessary, resulting in light sensitivity and tearing.
5. Difficulty driving at night People with astigmatism may find it more challenging to see clearly at night compared to during the day. During the day, our pupils naturally constrict to reduce light scattering, resulting in clearer vision. However, at night, our pupils dilate to allow more light in, causing more light scattering and resulting in poorer vision for individuals with astigmatism.
6. Seeing starburst patterns If you see starburst patterns resembling the spokes of a wheel, especially noticeable around bright lights at night, it could be a sign of astigmatism. The most distinct example of this is seeing red tail lights on cars.
7. Seeing ghosting or double images This is a severe symptom where individuals may see multiple overlapping images, making it difficult to distinguish letters and numbers, particularly at night.
Astigmatism can occur alongside other vision problems
⭐ 1. Astigmatism with nearsightedness ⭐
In this condition, the shape of the cornea or lens is abnormal, causing light to refract improperly. Consequently, light rays fail to converge at a single focal point on the retina, resulting in blurred vision, especially for distant objects.
⭐ 2. Astigmatism with farsightedness ⭐
When light enters the eye, it bends incorrectly due to an abnormal cornea or lens shape. This leads to multiple focal points on the retina, causing difficulty in focusing on both near and distant objects.
⭐ 3. Mixed Astigmatism ⭐
This complex condition occurs when both nearsightedness and farsightedness are present simultaneously. Light entering the eye focuses at multiple points on the retina, resulting in unclear vision, headaches, and distorted perception.
Treatment options for Astigmatism
1. Glasses
These offer a quick and safe solution to correct astigmatism. They are tailored to each individual's eye measurements obtained from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
2. Contact lenses
They provide similar results to glasses and are suitable for those who do not want to wear glasses due to discomfort or aesthetic reasons, or for those who need a wider field of vision for activities.
3. Surgical
In severe cases or for individuals who prefer not to wear glasses or contact lenses, surgical options like LASIK or PRK may be suitable. These procedures reshape the cornea to correct the refractive error permanently.
Basic self-test for astigmatism
🔍 Preparing for the test 🔍
1. Adjust the screen brightness to ensure clear visibility.
2. Position the image approximately 40 centimeters away from your eyes, or about an arm's length.
3. Observe the test image to see that all lines have equal sharpness.
🔍 Conducting the test 🔍
1. Begin by closing one eye to test the other eye and look at the grid pattern, starting from the center at a 90-degree angle, and gradually sweeping down to the left and right.
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You will see straight lines, each varying in darkness. If all lines appear equally dark to you, it may indicate you have little to no astigmatism. However, if you notice differences in darkness among the lines, it suggests you may have astigmatism.
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If you see lines of different darkness, with the darkest and clearest line indicating the axis of your astigmatism or perpendicular to that axis (for example, if you see the darkest line at 90 degrees, it indicates astigmatism at 90 or 180 degrees).
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Repeat the process with the other eye.
If you're still unsure whether you have astigmatism, it's recommended to consult an optometrist for a detailed eye examination and consultation.
Astigmatism can occur either due to genetic inheritance from parents or as a result of eye-related accidents. To observe whether you have astigmatism, pay attention to your own eye usage behavior, such as unclear vision at all distances, overlapping images that require squinting to see clearly, or noticeable halos around lights, especially at night. If unsure, it's advisable to have your eyes examined by an optometrist or ophthalmologist for proper diagnosis and treatment to ensure clear vision without impacting daily life.
Reference
www.samitivejchinatown.com/th/health-article/Astigmatism
www.pobpad.com
www.total.myalcon.com/ca/astigmatism/
www.news-medical.net/health/Astigmatism-Diagnosis-and-Treatment.aspx
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Consultation and eye examination with optometrists are available free of charge at Müller Optik, located opposite Lanna Hospital on Superhighway Road, and also at the HomePro Sansai branch. Services are provided every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
For inquiries or appointments, you can contact us via Facebook: Müller OPTIK Personalized Eyewear Chiang Mai, or call: 063-114-6333.
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