Astigmatism—causes, symptoms and possible treatments

Q: What happens if astigmatism is left untreated?

Untreated astigmatism will mean that your vision will stay blurry, since astigmatism does not resolve on its own. Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, this could mean difficulty driving at night, headaches, eye strain, and other common symptoms of untreated astigmatism.

Q: What do headlights look like at night with astigmatism?

If you have untreated astigmatism, headlights at night may look streaky or haloed, you may see starburst effects, and/or images may be blurry, distorted or squashed.

Q: At what age does astigmatism stop?

Astigmatism is not known to stop with age. However, common treatments options like eyeglasses, contact lenses, and rarely surgery are required to address the associated visual challenges like blurry vision.

Q: What risk factors are associated with the development of astigmatism?

Injury, eye surgery, and degenerative corneal diseases like keratoconus can all make astigmatism worse.

Q: What kind of lenses should I get if I have astigmatism?

Soft toric contact lenses can correct many levels of astigmatism. At higher levels, vision quality may vary, and some individuals may benefit from rigid, hybrid, or scleral lenses. Your eye doctor will recommend the most appropriate option.

Q: At what age does astigmatism develop?

It depends on the person. Some people are born with it, some develop it as adults, and sometimes it happens as a result of injury.

Test your eyes for signs of astigmatism

Medically reviewed on March 23, 2026

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Updated on July 13, 2026

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5 minute read

Key takeaways

What is astigmatism?

See what untreated astigmatism might look like

Common symptoms of astigmatism

Take online astigmatism test

How bad is your astigmatism?

See astigmatism types

How to correct astigmatism

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What happens if astigmatism is left untreated?

What do headlights look like at night with astigmatism?

Lights at night with astigmatism

At what age does astigmatism stop?

What risk factors are associated with the development of astigmatism?