Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a minor eye condition. The main symptom of astigmatism is blurred vision.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea (the front of the eye) is not a perfectly curved shape. The cornea should be shaped like a football but in cases of astigmatism, it has an irregular curve, with one half flatter or steeper than the other. This means the light rays that come into the eye do not focus properly on the retina at the back of the eye, creating a blurred image.

Refractive errors

Astigmatism belongs to a group of related eye conditions known as refractive errors. Other common refractive errors include:

• Short-sightedness (myopia).
• Long-sightedness (hypermetropia).

How common is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a very common eye condition and is usually present at birth (congenital). However, it can sometimes develop following an injury to the eye, or as a side effect of an eye operation.

Outlook

Symptoms of blurred vision do not usually change over time (they neither get better or worse).

In many cases, the symptoms of astigmatism are so mild that no treatment is required. In cases where vision is significantly affected by astigmatism, it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Laser treatment is also being more commonly used to treat astigmatism. However, it is unlikely that you will be able to receive laser treatment through the NHS.