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Friday, March 7, 2014

Understanding Astigmatism and its Treatment

Astigmatism, also known as eye stigma, is a common eye condition that afflicts millions of people around the world, and is one of the primary reasons for many to wear corrective lenses or glasses. It happens when the eye is not completely round in shape, causing refraction to happen more in one direction than the other. As a result, only part of the object is given clear focus.


Astigmatism can cause considerable eye strain, blurred vision, and fatigue. It can also occur along with other eye conditions such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. A mild case of astigmatism may not need corrective lenses, but a severe case has to be corrected with the right prescription. An ophthalmologist can determine the correct prescription for an individual after several tests.

A special kind of contact lenses, called toric lenses, had been developed to correct astigmatism. Toric lenses can bend light more powerfully in one direction than another, hence helping the eye distribute light more evenly, resulting in improved focus. Refractive surgery may also be done in severe cases. Several tests have to be done before surgery can be recommended, however, as the procedure requires that the eyes are free from corneal defects and any kind of disease.

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