All You Need to Know about Astigmatism Eye Care

So, what is astigmatism? It’s as vision complications brought about by imperfections in the curvature of the eye, which leads to blurred near or distance vision. It occurs when the cornea (front surface of the eye) or the lens has an imperfection, such as a tear or it changes shape. These imperfections can make it difficult for light coming into the eye to form a sharply focused image on the retina. At Slingsby and Huot Eye Care Associates in Rapid City, SD, we provide top-notch astigmatism eye care. 

Astigmatism is among the most common vision complications in the United States. Some ophthalmology bodies estimate that about 1 in 3 Americans suffer from this condition. The rate of astigmatism is about 14.3% in children under the age of and roughly 67.2% in persons 65 years or older. Astigmatism often occurs in combination with farsightedness and nearsightedness. You can also develop this vision complication after an eye injury, eye disease, or eye surgery, and it can also be present at birth.  

Symptoms of Astigmatism

Some of the common symptoms of stigmatism are: 

• Eyestrain and discomfort
• Headaches 
• Blurry vision and areas of distorted vision
• Squinting to see clearly

These symptoms can also indicate other eye complications besides astigmatism. If you develop these symptoms, it’s critical you visit an ophthalmologist for an eye exam to figure out their cause. Keep in mind that children are unlikely to realize they have blurry vision. If they realize they have a blurry or distorted vision, they might not complain about it. Unchecked astigmatism in children can lead to:

• Poor performance in academics and sports due to difficulties learning and socializing
• Lazy eye (amblyopia) and vision loss

It’s vital to you regularly take your children for eye exams so that if they have vision complications like astigmatism, they can be diagnosed early and treated. 

Astigmatism Ophthalmology Diagnosis and Treatment

When you visit an ophthalmologist for an eye exam, they are likely to use a combination of the following test to diagnose you of astigmatism: 

• Eye Chart to test for visual acuity (the sharpness of your vision) and different distances
• Phoropter, a large binocular-like device to test where you see the clearest vision
• Autorefractor to measure how components of your eye, like the retina, interact with light
• Keratometer to measure the curvature of your cornea. 

If you are diagnosed with astigmatism, your ophthalmology treatment could be:

• Contact lenses or eyeglasses that refocus light appropriately on the retina to ensure a sharp image is formed. The ophthalmologist will likely prescribe toric soft contact lenses if you have mild astigmatism and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses if you have severe astigmatism. 
• Eye surgery: The surgery will correct the imperfection with your cornea or lens that’s causing the astigmatism

Looking for Astigmatism Eye Care in South Dakota? 

Welcome to Slingsby and Huot Eye Care Associates; we are the most reputable ophthalmologist practice in SD. We have outreach clinics in Rapid City, Pierre, Belle Fourche, and Spearfish, SD. Contact us today at 605-719-9499 for more info on vision complications.