Astigmatism

Do straight lines sometimes look a little crooked, or do you confuse an 8 with a 0? You may have astigmatism, one of the most common vision problems.

What astigmatism is

In an astigmatic eye the cornea is not evenly curved like a sphere, but shaped more like a rugby ball. As a result, light does not focus on a single point on the retina and images look blurred or slightly distorted, both near and far. It is like looking through a badly calibrated camera lens.

Most common symptoms

• Blurred or distorted vision at all distances
• Confusing similar characters (8 and 0, B and 8)
• Headaches and fatigue after reading or using screens
• Halos and streaks around lights at night
• Needing to squint to see better

You can try a first check with our online astigmatism test.

How astigmatism is corrected

1. Glasses with toric lenses
Lenses calculated for your astigmatism, which bring images back into focus.

2. Toric contact lenses
Contact lenses designed to stay stable in the right position on the eye.

3. Combined correction
Astigmatism often comes with myopia, hyperopia or presbyopia: a single lens, including a progressive one, can correct everything together.

Astigmatism in children

A child with uncorrected astigmatism may have difficulty reading or at school without complaining about it. If it is high, it can also lead to amblyopia (lazy eye). Tip: a visit to the ophthalmologist every year, and an eye test if you notice difficulties with reading or at school.

Sharp vision is possible

With the right correction you can read without strain, use screens more comfortably and drive at night with fewer halos.