Correction of Astigmatism Is A Rather Simple Process

Correction of astigmatism can be accomplished very simply by qualified eye care professionals. This is usually a hereditary condition but in some cases, scarring from an eye injury or unsuccessful eye surgery causes astigmatism. The most common form is corneal astigmatism, which is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Most eyes have the form of a sphere but in cases of astigmatism, the cornea is more of an oblong shape. This causes light to focus in two points on the back of the eye, rather than the normal one. The result is either nearsightedness or farsightedness. Both can usually be easily corrected with eyeglasses or contacts.

An eye doctor can perform several tests to see if you might have astigmatism. The best test available now is corneal topography. Using a computer and the latest software, a color map is taken of your cornea by evaluating thousands of tiny pictures. The information is computed and it is determined if your cornea is of normal shape. If not, you may be further tested for other corneal diseases.

A similar test that is sometimes used to examine for astigmatism is keratometry. It is a simpler version of a corneal topography. Two curves representing the steepest and flattest on the cornea are measured and compare with a normal eye sphere. This test examines the eye's ability to focus and the ability to refract light.

In the past, only eyeglasses or hard contact lenses were prescribed to correct astigmatism. Now, patients can consider LASIK surgery as well as toric contact lenses to correct their vision problems. Toric contacts come in both rigid gas permeable and soft disposable types. Ask your eye care professional which is right for you.