You may have heard of astigmatism and wondered what it really is. It's an eye condition that is caused when the cornea is not shaped well. It’s common, with many new cases being diagnosed every year. It's common for people to have a mild case of astigmatism, and many of them don't need any treatment for it at all. There are also patients who have a more serious case of astigmatism, and this can be behind several vision issues. 

Some people with astigmatism were born with that abnormal corneal shape, but some people have a change in their cornea later and get astigmatism then. Eye injuries can cause this, as can certain eye diseases and various eye injuries. If you're due for your eye exam from the eye doctor, visit us at Advanced Eye Care. Call our optometry center to get an appointment with an optometrist. We have offices in Amarillo, TX, Canyon, TX, Dumas, TX, and Hereford, TX, for your convenience. 

Your Corneal Shape

For those who have round corneas, when they see, light comes in through the eye and is then bent evenly into different directions. This results in their vision being clear. That's not the case for those with astigmatism, though. They don't have round corneas and instead have corneas that have a football shape. This causes the light to come in and to be bent unevenly. This is what causes the images you see to be distorted, wavy, and blurry. You will see one area of an object look clear and in focus while the rest of it is blurry or wavy. Having distorted vision is the hallmark of this eye condition. The blurry vision is what often makes patients believe that they have nearsightedness or farsightedness when in fact it's astigmatism. You need an eye exam for a definitive diagnosis. 

The Symptoms of Astigmatism

You will get blurry vision with this condition just as you would with nearsightedness and farsightedness, but you might also get vision that is distorted or wavy. Many people with the condition frequently get headaches and may feel eye strain from trying to focus better. Many people also can't see well at night. It can be frustrating to have their vision so affected. You also won't be able to wear regular contacts if your astigmatism is moderate to severe.

Visit an Eye Doctor on Our Advanced Eye Care Team

When you need to visit an optometry center, visit us at Advanced Eye Care. Call us for your eye exam with the optometrist. We have offices in (806) 355-9536 Amarillo, TX, (806) 655-7748 Canyon, TX, (806) 935-7773 Dumas, TX, and (806) 364-3030 Hereford, TX, to serve you. We can offer advanced eye care to suite your needs.