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Astigmatism is a medical condition. One in a million patients have it.

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Astigmatism is a medical condition. One in a million patients have it.

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Astigmatism is a hereditary condition, but it can also be caused by eye injury or cataract surgery. Astigmatism may occur in one eye or both and results when the cornea is not properly shaped. A healthy cornea will be round in shape; however with astigmatism, the cornea will be irregular in shape. An astigmatism prevents light entering through the cornea to focus properly on the back wall of the eye. People with astigmatism experience blurred vision correlating to the degree of irregularity in the cornea; however, the condition will often be seen in combination with near or far sightedness

There are various treatments available for astigmatism, including surgery, glasses and contacts. Contacts are not as invasive as surgery and not appearance altering like glasses, making them an attractive option for many people.

The type of contacts your optometrist will recommend depends largely on the degree of astigmatism you have. Mild astigmatisms may be corrected with gas permeable standard, or spherical, contacts. These lenses are made from a more rigid material and are able to create the even circular shape needed to correct the wearer's vision.

Specialized astigmatism contacts are also known as toric lenses. For those with moderate to severe astigmatism, toric lenses will be recommended by your optometrist. Unlike spherical lenses for patients with mild or no astigmatism, toric lenses designed to stay in place and correct the irregular corneal shape. These lenses are weighted with a top and bottom. Unlike standard spherical lenses that will move and twist as the wearer blinks, toric lenses have a heavier bottom. Regardless of how they are placed on the eye, the heavier end will move to the bottom of your eye and the lens will stay in place. Once in place, toric lenses will also reshape the cornea, rather than conform to it.

Due to their specialized features, toric lenses are generally more expensive than spherical lenses; however the benefits outweigh the costs. Unfortunately, not all astigmatism can be corrected with contact lenses. If you suffer from astigmatism, consult your optometrist to see if toric lenses are right for you.

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The main symptom of astigmatism is blurring

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Astigmatism is a condition that may be present at birth

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The astigmatism chart was designed to evaluate whether a person has astigmatism, which is a condition which results in blurry or distorted vision. When a person looks at an astigmatism chart, all lines should appear to be the same darkness, clarity, and distance apart. A person with astigmatism will notice differences in the lines.

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