A typical eyeball is round. However, patients with astigmatism have eyes shaped more like a football. Patients with astigmatism have trouble focusing properly as objects at a distance appear wavy and blurry. Astigmatism causing eye fatigue and headaches with prolonged computer work.  A visit to the optometrist will help diagnose astigmatism. At Columbia Vision Center in Seattle, we have been helping our patients manage astigmatism for many years.

Causes and Symptoms of Astigmatism

Many people believe that you can develop astigmatism by sitting too close to the television or by reading in low light. However, this is not true. Many people are born with the condition and the exact reason for the condition is still unclear. Astigmatism can also be caused by an eye disease, surgery, or eye injury. Keratoconus can also cause astigmatism, though this is rare. Astigmatism can usually be managed with the right glasses or contact lenses.  Symptoms of astigmatism include:

• Headaches
• Eye aches
  
• Blurry vision
• Eye fatigue and Eyestrain at distance or near
  

Diagnosis & Treatment 

Since symptoms normally progress slowly, regular visits to an optometrist are essential for managing astigmatism. Our eye doctor will conduct various tests to determine the sharpness of your vision. Other tools used to measure your vision include:

• Phoropter – During this test, our optometrist will have you look through various lenses to find the one that gives you the clearest vision.
• Keratometer - This machine is used to measure the shape and curvature of your cornea, the front surface of your eye.
• Autorefractor- This device is used to measure how light bounces off the back of your eye. This will help our doctor determine the type of lenses you need.

Treatment Options

Corrective lenses or contacts are prescribed by an eye doctor. If you are going to be wearing contact lenses, we will see if toric lenses are right for you. These lenses bend light more in one direction helping you see clearer. Rigid gas-permeable lenses are available for patients with higher amounts of astigmatism.

Refractive laser surgery can change the shape of your cornea. LASIK. PRK, and SMILE are examples of elective laser eye surgery.  For very high myopia, intraocular contact lenses or other surgical techniques can be considered.  To undergo this treatment method, you will need to have eyes that are healthy with no corneal scars or retina issues. Our optometrist will assess your condition to determine if you are a good candidate for elective eye surgery.

Learn More about Specialty Contacts with Our Eye Doctor in Seattle

Call Columbia Vision Center today at (206) 382-6682 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our optometrist.