Do you sometimes struggle to focus your eyes? Or often experience eye strain or blurred vision? You might have astigmatism. Don’t worry—it’s a common and easily correctable condition! Here’s what you need to know.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a common eye condition, also called a “cylindrical defect.” Despite the technical term, it’s nothing serious and can be corrected easily with glasses or contact lenses. Normally, your cornea—the clear front surface of your eye—is round like a soccer ball. But with astigmatism, the cornea is shaped more like a rugby ball, having one flatter and one more curved axis. This irregular shape causes distorted or blurred vision.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

Symptoms can vary, but often include:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Difficulty focusing at any distance
  • Trouble seeing fine details
  • Eye fatigue
  • Headaches or dizziness
  • Poor night vision (often confused with night blindness)

How do you know if you have astigmatism?

A simple eye test with an optician or ophthalmologist can diagnose astigmatism. You may be asked to look at a circular image made of straight lines; if some lines appear darker or blurry, it could indicate astigmatism. The eye care professional will measure your exact eye curvature to determine the best correction.

What causes astigmatism?

Astigmatism is usually inherited and often becomes more noticeable with age. Genetics play a big role, but it can also develop from eye injuries or, more rarely, certain eye diseases.
Myth busted: Sitting too close to screens or reading in dim light does not cause astigmatism.

How can you correct astigmatism?

  • Surgery: Laser or refractive surgery can permanently reshape the cornea. It’s effective but can be costly.
  • Toric contact lenses: Special lenses designed to correct the uneven curvature of the cornea, indicated by cylinder and axis values on your prescription.
  • Glasses: Eyeglasses with cylindrical correction also work well to fix astigmatism.

Great news from Glazoo!

If you order glasses from Glazoo, adding astigmatism correction costs you nothing extra. Simply provide your prescription—including cylinder and axis values—and we’ll custom-make your lenses to suit your needs. If your cylinder value is stronger than 2.00, we recommend double-checking your prescription to avoid overly thick lenses—unless you like the “fish bowl” style!

Still have questions?

Contact us anytime—we’re happy to help!

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