Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due to the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back of the eye.

The specific cause of astigmatism is unknown. Astigmatism occurs due to the irregular shape of the cornea or the lens inside the eye. The cornea and lens are primarily responsible for properly focusing light entering your eyes allowing you to see things clearly. Sometimes astigmatism may develop following an eye injury or eye surgery.

Astigmatism can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Testing for astigmatism measures how the eyes focus light and determines the power of any optical lenses needed to compensate for reduced vision. Objective refractive error examinations were performed on 2454 residents within this sample. The mean age was 38 years and females comprised 57.5% of the study population. Myopia was most prevalent among those aged 30-39 years and least prevalent among children under 10 years.