Astigmatism is a vision problem that affects many people. It is an anomaly suffered by the eye consisting of an irregular curvature of the cornea, causing a distorted vision. Unlike normal vision in which objects and the environment are effortlessly distinguished, this eye defect causes you to see deformed images and the outline of things is not clearly appreciated.
The eyes affected by astigmatism have the lens or cornea with irregular shape in some areas, being the main cause of blurred vision. Being an eye problem that affects a considerable percentage of the population, it is important to know in depth the causes, symptoms and treatment. To find out how a person with astigmatism sees, at. we recommend that you continue reading this article.
How people with astigmatism see
An astigmatic eye has distorted vision of images due to the shape of the cornea, a membrane that has a certain curvature, symmetrical and round as if it were a ball. In the case of astigmatism, the cornea varies towards an irregular and oval shape, as if it were a rugby ball.
Now, how does a person with astigmatism see the lights? The rays of light coming from objects are scattered, reaching more than one focal point. It is very different from what happens with normal vision in one eye, in which light is refracted at a single focal point on the retina. So, if you want to know what people with astigmatism see, you should know that the person captures a blurred image in the retina, with serious difficulties to see correctly at any distance.
Once you understand what astigmatism is, you will realize that it is an annoying and unpleasant situation with certain risks such as the problems it can cause if you are driving a vehicle. Therefore, it is essential that you go to an optician so that a specialist can help you correct your vision immediately. Generally, the solution is to put on glasses.
Causes of astigmatism
The specific cause of astigmatism is unknown. It usually appears from birth, and can remain stable over the years or worsen. It is thought to be hereditary, so people with astigmatism probably have an offspring with the same eye vision problem.
It is a common disorder that can occur along with other eye problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Nor should it be confused with amblyopia, popularly known as lazy or lazy eye: they are not the same disease although astigmatism contributes to the appearance of amblyopia.
Some eye diseases and certain eye surgeries such as cataracts can also be the cause of astigmatism.
Symptoms of astigmatism
Next, we tell you the main symptoms so you know what a person with astigmatism sees:
- Distorted or blurred vision.
- Need to squint to see well and appreciate the details of the images.
- Headache.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Dizziness.
- Eye fatigue caused by overexertion of sight.
- Eye discomfort and irritation.
- Blurred near and far vision, at any distance.
Some people develop other vision problems from astigmatism such as eye strain, squint eye, strabismus and usual headaches. Everything comes from the effort made to try to focus on objects, both distant and nearby.
Although many people are born with astigmatism, they don't notice it until they start going to school or learn to read. For these cases, the ideal is to consult with a specialist and immediately go to a review to undergo an eye exam in which the reasons for these symptoms can be determined exactly.
Treatment of astigmatism
In an optician they can do a complete eye exam using different techniques and instruments that allow you to measure the way you focus the light from your eyes. These techniques for detecting astigmatism are the same as those used for the detection of farsightedness and nearsightedness.
The optician-optometrist will be able to measure your visual acuity through the optotype, that is, a table with different letters that you will have to read to determine the clarity of your vision at different distances. It will also test the mastery or power of focus by putting some lenses in front of your eyes.
As for the curvature of the cornea, it is measured with an ophthalmologist or meatometer. A corneal topography can also be made to obtain a complete map of the state of the cornea, thus obtaining additional information regarding the surface of the membrane.
With these tests, the specialist can make a diagnosis and determine what type of prescription your lenses need so that you can enjoy good vision. Low and medium prescriptions are usually corrected with glasses or soft toxic contact lenses.
In higher prescriptions, the most recommended option are glasses or rigid contact lenses. As a resource, surgery is another alternative, but always under the recommendation of the specialist since it carries some risks.
If you found this post useful about how a person with astigmatism sees, check out our article on the Causes of Blurred Vision and Why I See Blurred by One Eye.
