Oblique Astigmatism Doesn't Necessarily Mean A Lifetime Of Blurred Vision.

Oblique astigmatism occurs when rays of light from an object in the periphery strike the lens, as the name suggests, obliquely, or at an angle. When that happens, the person may have some clear vision, but objects in the peripheral, or those items that may only be on the sidelines of field of vision, are blurred. Think of a movie shot where the actors are doing a dream sequence and the edges of the film are blurred but the scene straight ahead is clear. The question then becomes how much blur is there around the edges. Is there actually more blurring than there is clarity? It is a possibility, depending on the severity of the obliqueness.

This condition can cause problems from eyestrain to dizziness to headaches. It can become almost impossible for a school-aged child to see the blackboard, or for an adult to safely drive. Fortunately, those suffering from this form of astigmatism can find relief, normally from aspheric lenses or toric lenses. Both types of lenses are designed to counteract the blurring that occurs and to sharpen the wearer's vision.

Astigmatism is commonly passed down from generation to generation. Its affects on a person's life can be anywhere from inconvenient to disabling. The best way to determine if you suffer from this form of stigmatism is to talk to your eyecare provider. He will be able to run the appropriate tests to properly diagnose your problem and consult with you about the best corrective measure, such as toric contact lenses.