Astigmatism is a common eye condition that causes blurry vision because the cornea or lens of the eye is not perfectly shaped. Instead of being round like a football, the cornea or lens are shaped more like a rugby ball.
To see clearly, our eyes need to refract light onto the retina. For people with astigmatism, this process is hindered by the shape of the eye. Astigmatism usually occurs because of an overly elongated eye, which may be the result of injury, genetic factors or an underlying eye condition (like keratoconus). The elongated eye shape stops light from hitting the retina correctly and leads to blurry or distorted vision and other symptoms like light sensitivity.
Astigmatism can be managed with contact lenses and glasses. Surgical treatment can alleviate symptoms by reshaping the cornea so light can be correctly refracted onto the retina.
Astigmatism causes blurry vision and visual distortion. People with the condition often notice difficulties seeing at night, especially while driving. The vision loss may occur at any distance and people with astigmatism may also be long or shortsighted.
