What is astigmatism?

O astigmatism It is an eye disorder, mainly caused by irregularities in the shape of the cornea, which must be smooth and circular. Thus, when the person has this problem, the structure is more oval.

In rare cases, astigmatism can also be caused by deformities in the lens or even the entire eyeball.

This problem results in discomfort and difficulty seeing as the vision becomes distorted. This can occur both with objects that are close and with those that are far away, making it difficult to observe the image in detail.

In general, astigmatism is also associated with other disorders such as myopia and hyperopia. Check below the causes of this problem, its symptoms and how it can be treated.

Causes of Astigmatism

The main cause of astigmatism is related to genetics. Therefore, this deficiency can often be observed in childhood. In some cases, it may decrease as the child develops.

However, astigmatism can also be acquired as a result of eye diseases, due to the habit of scratching your eyes frequently and even after performing surgeries to treat other problems such as strabismus.

symptoms of astigmatism

A person with astigmatism has difficulty seeing objects and images that are in different planes. This is because the eyes, in this case, have difficulty forming the focal point on the retina. In this way, the vision is blurred.

Other symptoms may be associated with astigmatism, such as headache, irritation, burning sensation, red eyes and sensitivity to light.

types of astigmatism

there are four types of astigmatism, classified according to structure (corneal or lenticular) and main meridians (regular or irregular):

1. Corneal astigmatism: it is the most frequent type of astigmatism; occurs when the cornea has an irregular shape;
2. Lenticular Astigmatism: occurs when the lenses have an irregular shape;
3. Regular astigmatism: occurs when the curvature of the meridians is oval in shape but is still fairly regular. Thus, the problem can be corrected with the use of glasses and lenses;
4. Irregular astigmatism: occurs when this curvature is extremely disproportionate. In this case, the glasses do not work and the use of specific lenses may not be enough to treat the problem, so surgery may be necessary.

Astigmatism and myopia

Astigmatism is caused by corneal deformities, which results in difficulties seeing images clearly from near or far.

already the myopia occurs when the axis of the eye is elongated, causing the light rays to form the focus and, consequently, the images in front of the retina.

In this case, the difficulty to see occurs only when the observer is far from the object.

astigmatism treatment

Astigmatism is diagnosed by Ophthalmologistafter a complete assessment. Treatment consists of using glasses or contact lenses to correct the problem according to the needs of each patient.

A definitive treatment option is refractive surgery. It can be performed using a laser and through the implantation of rings or intraocular lenses.

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