Astigmatism

Astigmatism is caused when your eye is not completely round. Because our bodies are not perfect, astigmatism occurs in nearly everybody to some degree but for some it may cause blurring and vision challenges.

In an eye with astigmatism, light fails to come to a single focus on the retina to produce clear vision. Instead, multiple focus points occur, either in front of the retina or behind it (or both). Symptoms of uncorrected astigmatism include eye strain and headaches, especially after prolonged visual tasks. Squinting also is a very common symptom.

There are three primary types of astigmatism:
Myopic astigmatism. One or both principal meridians of the eye are nearsighted. (If both meridians are nearsighted, they are myopic in differing degree.)

Hyperopic astigmatism. One or both principal meridians are farsighted. (If both are farsighted, they are hyperopic in differing degree.)
Mixed astigmatism. One principal meridian is nearsighted, and the other is farsighted.

Astigmatism, like nearsightedness and farsightedness, can usually be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or Lasik surgery. Allow Eye Expressions in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. answer all your astigmatism questions.