Eye Health Resources
Astigmatism—A closer look at causes, symptoms, treatments
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism: A different cornea or lens shape
Don’t let the long, technical name fool you, there's nothing to fear about astigmatism. It’s simply a term used to describe an eye that has a more cylindrical shape than a spherical one. This difference in shape is what affects eyesight. Astigmatism is actually quite common and can be corrected. In fact, about one in three people have it, so it’s more appropriate to call the shape “different” rather than “abnormal.”
The science of astigmatism made simple
Below, we’ll go over the basics of astigmatism. It’s a complex subject that combines geometry, physics and anatomy, and simplifying it means glossing over some of the specifics. For any questions you have that aren’t answered in full for you here, it’s best to reach out to your eye doctor.
Start by understanding non-astigmatic eyes
The front of your eye is home to both your cornea and crystalline lens. For most people, the curvature of both is spherical, like you’d see on a round ball. The spherical shape means light from the world in front of you is able to focus equally from all directions. If that light focuses on your retina, you probably have clear vision.
A different shape affects vision
With astigmatism, your cornea or lens isn’t spherical like most people’s—it’s more cylindrical, like an American football. Since light isn’t passing through a uniform sphere shape, it doesn’t focus equally on one part of your retina (the part of your eye that helps form the images you see), it focuses at two or more points inside the eye. For example, one point might be on the retina and one might be behind the retina. This is what can create blurry or distorted vision.
Symptoms
How to tell if you have astigmatism
People with uncorrected astigmatism may experience one or more of these symptoms, and they can be mild or more severe, depending on the shape of your cornea and/or lens. To know for sure whether you have astigmatism, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor.
- Blurry vision at all distances
- Distorted or squashed images
- Streaky or haloed lights at night
- Headaches
- Eye fatigue
- Squinting
- Difficulty seeing at night
What might someone with astigmatism see?
The image on the left shows an example a scene with clear vision, and the image on the right shows what the same scene might look like for a person with uncorrected astigmatism.
Causes
It may be in your genes
If you have astigmatism, you may be able to blame your parents. Doctors aren’t sure why the shape of the cornea varies from person to person , but they do know a major risk factor is genetics. That said, some people do get astigmatism from eye disease or injury.
Diagnosis
How eye doctors diagnose astigmatism
A comprehensive eye exam can reveal whether or not you have astigmatism. There are a few pieces of equipment your doctor can use to help them determine the shape of your cornea.
Treatments
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.
Eyeglasses correct astigmatism by using toric lenses made specifically for the shape of your corneas. You may have heard of LASIK. It’s where an eye surgeon uses a laser to reshape your cornea, and it works for many cases of astigmatism too.
Orthokeratology is a big word for lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea. Think: A mold that adjusts the cornea to a shape that provides clearer vision. Orthokeratology lenses are typically worn at night so that the temporarily reshaped cornea can help provide clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contacts. If a patient stops wearing the lenses, the corneas returns to their original shapes and because of this, vision returns to its original condition. Contact lenses correct astigmatism in a way similarly to glasses—they refocus the light so that you can see more clearly. There are two options:Eyeglasses
Surgery
Orthokeratology
Contact lenses
Why choose ACUVUE for astigmatism?
Clear vision near and far
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
Your vision stays clear and stable as you run, jump and twist. And unlike glasses, there's no risk of breaking contacts.
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.
Get started with ACUVUE contact lenses
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Footnotes
Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.
#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.
*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.
~Reward amount dependent on ACUVUE product and quantity purchased and if you are a new wearer. Must get an eye exam and purchase from participating provider. Original receipt required. Valid thru 06/30/24. Rewards paid in the form of an ACUVUE brand Prepaid Mastercard® . Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted in the U.S. issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Your use of the prepaid card is governed by the Cardholder Agreement, and some fees may apply. This is not a gift card. Please note that prepaid cards are subject to expiration, so pay close attention to the expiration date of the card.
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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