Subscribe
Astigmatism
How can children with minor astigmatism recover?
Mild astigmatism in children refers to astigmatism below 150 degrees, which can impact vision. Currently, once the degree of astigmatism is established, there are no effective non-surgical treatments available to reduce it. Since children cannot immediately undergo surgery to correct astigmatism, the alternative is to wear frame glasses or rigid corneal contact lenses to correct their vision and enhance their eyesight. In subsequent life, it's important to develop good eye habits, avoid squinting when looking at things, not use the eyes at close range for extended periods, and try to prevent the degree of astigmatism from increasing. After reaching adulthood, astigmatism can be corrected through laser surgery.
Can children with astigmatism undergo laser surgery?
Firstly, laser surgery is generally performed after the age of 18, as people's eyes continue to grow. This means that just like when a person stops growing taller, the eyes also stop growing at a certain age. If laser surgery is performed too early, while the eyes are still growing, the results may regress over time. Therefore, astigmatism in children should only be addressed after they reach adulthood, usually after the age of 18, but we generally recommend waiting until after the age of 21. Additionally, if the progression of the eye prescription is less than 50 to 100 degrees per year, the surgery outcomes are more likely to be stable. Generally, laser surgery is primarily used for myopia, which pertains to issues with seeing distant scenes, whereas astigmatism, which generally affects horizontal vision, is usually not corrected through laser surgery.
Can pseudomyopia cause astigmatism?
Pseudomyopia generally does not involve astigmatism. Pseudomyopia is caused by ciliary muscle spasm, while astigmatism is due to changes in the curvature of the cornea, or changes in the eyeball itself; these two are not the same. Pseudomyopia can be completely cured with proactive treatment, adequate rest, reducing close-up activities, avoiding eye fatigue, and using eye drops that alleviate ciliary muscle paralysis, such as low-concentration atropine eye drops and digoxin eye drops. If not treated actively, prolonged pseudomyopia can turn into true myopia. True myopia involves elongation of the eye axis, leading to blurred distance vision but clear near vision. Therefore, when this occurs, a proper dilated refraction test should be conducted. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
Will astigmatism cause the pupils to enlarge?
Astigmatism of the eye is a type of refractive error caused by an uneven curvature of the cornea's surface, resulting in different refractive powers along different axes. Once astigmatism occurs, particularly with a high degree of astigmatism, there can be a noticeable decrease in vision, distortion in sight, or in severe cases, significant eye fatigue. However, it generally does not lead to pupil dilation. Pupil dilation is caused by the paralysis of the ciliary muscle due to internal and external factors, resulting in enlarged pupils. Therefore, if symptoms of astigmatism appear, it is advisable to visit a hospital promptly for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Can nearsightedness with astigmatism undergo laser surgery?
Myopia and astigmatism are common eye diseases that are two different types of refractive errors but often occur together. Patients with both myopia and astigmatism who are over 18 years old and have stable prescriptions for more than a year can undergo laser surgery treatment. During the laser surgery, both myopia and astigmatism can be corrected simultaneously. Before undergoing surgery, patients need to visit the ophthalmology department of a hospital for an in-person consultation and examination. The exact degrees of myopia and astigmatism are determined through refraction tests, while corneal topography and ophthalmic ultrasound are used to assess the corneal curvature and thickness to determine if the patient is suitable for corrective laser surgery.
How to relieve headaches caused by astigmatism in the eyes?
Eyestrain and headache can be understood in two senses: First, if one experiences astigmatism when viewing objects, accompanied by headaches and eye pain, it is possible that glaucoma is present. This condition is also associated with increased eye pressure and swelling pain in the eyes. If this is the case, treatment to lower eye pressure and treat glaucoma is necessary. The second meaning involves astigmatism identified through an eye examination, indicating a refractive error. If the astigmatism correction in the glasses worn is not suitable, prolonged viewing can lead to visual fatigue, eye pain, and accompanying headaches. In this case, a detailed eye examination followed by wearing appropriate glasses is needed to alleviate the symptoms.
How to protect eyes with astigmatism
Some patients have congenital astigmatism, while most of the patients have acquired astigmatism. The occurrence of astigmatism is mostly due to improper sitting posture. It is caused by looking at objects from an inclined angle rather than directly from the eyes' proper axis. Especially lying down while reading or using smartphones can easily lead to an increase in astigmatism. If astigmatism is not corrected, it can easily worsen eye fatigue, thereby inducing a further increase in the degree of vision problems. In daily life, it is important to correct poor sitting postures and avoid situations such as lying down while reading or using smartphones. Engage more in outdoor activities, and limit reading sessions to no more than half an hour at a time. Consuming more vitamins A, D, C, E, and lutein in the diet can also help in preventing astigmatism.
What foods should be eaten for astigmatism?
For astigmatism, it is important in daily life to consume a diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and carotenes, such as meat, eggs, dairy, various fresh fruits and vegetables, and carrots. It is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods. If astigmatism occurs, it is important to visit a hospital for an optometric examination promptly. If there is significant astigmatism, it should be corrected with glasses based on a medical optometric examination, as uncorrected astigmatism can lead to severe eye strain over time.
Can playing with a cell phone every day during pregnancy cause astigmatism?
It is not recommended to use cellphones every day during pregnancy. Although using mobile phones does not cause astigmatism, it can still harm the eyes of pregnant women. Astigmatism is caused by congenital changes in the corneal shape and the intrinsic refractive state of the lens. Various acquired factors can also affect the outcome of astigmatism, such as unhealthy visual habits in daily life and changes in refractive status, which can lead to acquired astigmatism. Engaging in prolonged mobile phone use during pregnancy might lead to myopia, but it will not cause astigmatism. Long-term accumulation of myopia can lead to symptoms like dizziness and fatigue.
Can myopia surgery correct astigmatism?
Myopia surgery can also remove astigmatism. Both myopia and astigmatism are common ophthalmological diseases, and they are different types of refractive errors that can occur simultaneously. Currently, there are various surgical methods to correct myopia, such as excimer laser surgery, full femtosecond laser surgery, half femtosecond laser surgery, and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation for phakic eyes. Whatever the type of surgery mentioned, it can correct and treat myopia while simultaneously removing the patient's astigmatism. Prior to surgery, a detailed optometric examination and ocular examination are required. Based on the patient's eye condition and specific degrees of myopia and astigmatism, a corresponding surgical plan is designed.