Astigmatism is caused when the cornea of the eye is curved incorrectly. The cornea of the eye is usually spherical in shape but with this condition it tends to be more oval. In order to define astigmatism it is important that you understand how the cornea works. The cornea of the eye is usually smooth and curved equally in all directions. This ensures that the light that enters the cornea is focused in all directions. In eye astigmatism the cornea is curved more in one direction and this can result in vision that is distorted and the inability to focus correctly. This condition is easy to treat and an astigmatism contact lens is probably the best solution.

Choosing An Astigmatism Contact Lens

Procuring a contact for astigmatism used to mean that only rigid lenses or a hard contact lens for astigmatism could be used but now there is a soft contact for astigmatism that can be used. This contact for astigmatism is called a toric lens.

This contact for astigmatism contains a special correction which can also include a prescription for short sightedness and farsightedness if needed.

When choosing a contact for astigmatism you now have a varied choice. You can choose from Acuvue Advance for astigmatism, an astigmatism bifocal contact lens, and even a colored contact lens for astigmatism. You can also purchase a disposable contact lens for astigmatism.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

The most common symptoms of astigmatism are blurred or distorted image at short or long distance, sensitivity to light, headaches, eye squints (as an attempt to see an object more clearly), eye strain (when eye is forced to focus for a long period).

How astigmatism is diagnosed?

Your ophthalmologist or optometrist may use the following tools to examine your vision with:

* Visual test which involves reading letters on a chart. Optician may suspect that you have astigmatism if you see the letters become progressively smaller on each line.

* Astigmatic dial chart which shows a series of semi-circle lines. People with astigmatism will not see the lines equally clear.

* Ophthalmometer, an instrument for measuring the reflection of an image on the surface of the cornea and other capacities of the eye, to determine the degree of astigmatism.

Keratoscope (Placido's disk) : an ophthalmic instrument to assess the shape the anterior surface of the cornea. If a patient is suffering from astigmatism, the reflection of a series of concentric rings that are projected onto the cornea are seen distorted.

Glasses and contact lenses are popular choices for those who suffer from astigmatism and they allow people to enjoy clear vision when wearing the corrective lenses. However, these days many people are choosing to have their astigmatism corrected with the help of laser eye surgery. This operation is typically a very short one and patients can enjoy an improvement in their vision almost immediately.

The type of laser eye treatment recommended for those with astigmatism depends on their own unique needs, so a trained optometrist will always need to advise the best course of action. People who find that they are not suitable for laser eye surgery may find that intraocular lens surgery could help them enjoy relief from astigmatism instead.

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