Astigmatism—causes, symptoms and possible treatments

Learn about this extremely common vision condition, take our online test, and learn about common treatment options, including ACUVUE^® contact lenses.

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

Astigmatism is a common vision issue that happens when your cornea or lens is not perfectly round, leading to blurred or distorted vision
People with astigmatism may experience symptoms like blurry vision, eye strain, headaches, and difficulty seeing at night
Astigmatism can be corrected with treatments like glasses, contact lenses or surgery
Contacts that correct astigmatism are called toric lenses

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a common eye condition that causes blurry or distorted vision at all distances. It happens when the cornea or lens of the eye isn’t perfectly round.

To elaborate, your eye works best when your cornea or lens is spherical like a basketball, but with astigmatism, it's shaped more like a football. This football-like shape makes it more difficult to properly focus the light coming into your eye. Astigmatism is incredibly common—about 1 in 3 have it. Some people are born with it, some develop it over time, and some experience it after an eye injury or eye surgery. In many cases, it's easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Dive deeper on astigmatism

See what untreated astigmatism might look like

The way astigmatism affects your vision can vary a lot depending on how severe your astigmatism is, the orientation of your astigmatism, and the health of your eyes. Generally speaking, astigmatism tends to cause blurry or distorted vision at all distances. Move the slider back and forth to simulate how the view might look if you have astigmatism.

This is an optical simulation only

Common symptoms of astigmatism

While an eye doctor is the only person who can diagnose your astigmatism, it's possible you have some astigmatism if you experience:

Blurry or distorted vision at all distances
Eyestrain
Headaches
Eye fatigue
Squinting
Difficulty seeing at night

Take online astigmatism test

How bad is your astigmatism?

While for many people, astigmatism is easily treatable with standard soft contact lenses, some people have more severe astigmatism that means they may need alternative treatments like different lens types or surgery. Ultimately, your eye doctor will perform tests and measurements of your eyes to tailor your vision correction to your unique type of astigmatism.

See astigmatism types

How to correct astigmatism

Correcting astigmatism so that you can see clearly isn’t one size fits all—your prescribed solution will depend on your lifestyle, your eyes, and the expertise and recommendation of your eye doctor. Common solution include glasses, surgery and contact lenses.

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses correct astigmatism by using lenses made specifically for your unique eye shape.

Contact lenses

Contact lenses correct astigmatism in a way similar to glasses—they address the unique shape of your eye to refocus the light so that you can see more clearly. The most common type is soft toric contact lenses, which is what ACUVUE creates.

Surgery

You may have heard of LASIK. It’s one example of laser eye surgery that can correct astigmatism. During this procedure, an eye surgeon uses a laser to reshape your cornea.

Try ACUVUE Contact Lenses for free*

Contact Lenses made for astigmatism

ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-Day for ASTIGMATISM

ACUVUE^® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL for ASTIGMATISM

ACUVUE^® OASYS 1-DAY with HydraLuxe^® TECHNOLOGY for ASTIGMATISM

Why choose ACUVUE contact lenses for astigmatism?

Clear and unobstructed vision

Contacts provide unobstructed sight and correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness or farsightedness.

BLINK STABILIZED^® Design

For astigmatism, it’s extremely important that your lenses stay in place for clear vision. Ours realigns with every blink.

Great for active lifestyles

You can run, jump and twist without worrying about glasses falling off or getting damaged.

Apply and remove hassle free

Due to the contact lens's design, it can't be put on upside down like most other lenses for astigmatism.

UV protection^{#^}

ACUVUE offers UV blocking^{#^} across its entire line of contact lenses, including those for astigmatism.

What’s next?

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor

Curious what your contact lens options are? Get in touch with your eye doctor for a contact lens fitting exam.

Try ACUVUE Contact Lenses for free^*

Follow a few simple steps to download your own free trial certificate to take to your contact lens fitting appointment.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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.

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.

Lights at night with astigmatism

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.

What risk factors are associated with the development of astigmatism?

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

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.

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.

Related content

Types of astigmatism

Can astigmatism be fixed or cured permanently?

The information provided on this page and across the entire Acuvue.com experience is designed to offer educational insights into eye health, referencing expert advice from reputable medical and government organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association and the National Eye Institute. While we research, report, and review the content on Acuvue.com and its extended social media to deliver accurate and up-to-date vision, vision care, and vision correction information, we do not make any assurances, and content accessed on or through Acuvue.com and its extended social media is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any eye conditions or health issues. This brings us to our #1 eye health tip: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance and care.

^*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.

^#Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.

^{^}WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

‖ Reward amount dependent on ACUVUE^® product and quantity purchased, if you are a new wearer and promo code offer eligibility. Must get an eye exam and purchase from participating provider. ACUVUE^® Rewards are only valid on in-office purchases, purchases made at select retail locations and purchases made via ACUVUE^® Shop. Rewards are not valid for internet purchases (except via ACUVUE^® Checkout and ACUVUE^® Shop) or purchases made at non-participating retail locations. Recent eye exam required. Offer valid through 12/31/26. For full terms and conditions: https://rewards.promo.acuvue.com/#/rewardsTerms

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Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE^® Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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