When it comes to vision and eye health, you may have heard of the term "astigmatism." If you've never heard the word from your eye doctor, it may seem like a daunting health issue, but it's one of the most common eye conditions and treatable. It's caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Because the eye is curved, any irregularity in these parts will affect how light passes through and is processed. To better understand how this can affect a person, here's what you need to know. 

What Are the Causes of Astigmatism

Astigmatism is primarily a genetic issue evident from birth, although it can also reveal itself later in life. It can also be caused by physical damage to the eye. Some possibilities include an injury, surgery, or a disease that directly affects the eye itself. Thankfully, habits like reading in low light conditions or staring at a monitor or television for long stretches at a time will not lead to or worsen astigmatism. However, those habits will cause eye strain, which often indicates astigmatism. 

What Are the Symptoms?

As mentioned above, eye strain is a tell-tale sign you may have this condition. If you feel any persistent type of discomfort around your eyes or constantly experience headaches, have an eye doctor have a look. 

Blurry vision is another common symptom. Any distortions in the cornea or lens make it difficult for your eyes to focus, and what you're seeing won't be crisp or clear. Astigmatism usually happens alongside nearsightedness or farsightedness as well. 

This eye condition can complicate your night vision. When it's darker, your eyes try to dilate to allow more light in so they can focus; however, because of the irregular curvature, they can't do this properly. So instead, the increased dilation makes light sources fuzzier and creates more glare.

How Is It Treated?

Eye doctors will generally prescribe corrective lenses to fix astigmatism, just like they would with nearsightedness or farsightedness. This can be done with eyeglasses or contact lenses, but they can also do refractive surgery if the irregularity is severe and on the cornea. The most popular type of refractive surgery is LASIK, which involves using lasers to reshape the cornea.

If you've experienced any of the symptoms listed above, make an appointment at Blue Earth Valley Eye Clinic. Their eye doctors offer a wide range of services, from basic eye exams to glaucoma tests. They also welcome patients of any age, so feel free to bring the whole family. You can learn about all their eye care services on their website or by calling (507) 526-2222.