What should I do if I have astigmatism in my eyes?

Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Astigmatism should be corrected by wearing astigmatic lenses. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error where the refractive power of the eye varies along different axes, resulting in a refractive abnormality. Particularly with high degrees of astigmatism, there may be symptoms such as blurred vision, distorted vision, or even eye fatigue. Therefore, once astigmatism is detected, it is important to visit a hospital for a medical eye examination promptly. It is recommended that astigmatism of 50 to 75 degrees or more should be timely corrected with glasses, otherwise prolonged uncorrected astigmatism can lead to severe eye fatigue. Additionally, if adult patients have other refractive errors such as myopia along with astigmatism, they could also consider undergoing laser surgery for myopia correction.

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Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
47sec home-news-image

Astigmatism in children is caused by what?

The majority of astigmatism in children is caused by congenital factors, that is, genetic factors. If one or both parents of the child have astigmatism, the probability of the child having astigmatism is higher than that of other children. There are also a few cases where a child's astigmatism is caused by acquired factors, such as surgery, trauma, or illness, all of which may cause changes in the curvature of the cornea and lens. Additionally, a lack of outdoor activities and poor eye habits might also promote the development of astigmatism. It is recommended that once a child is diagnosed with astigmatism, they should go to a reputable hospital for examination and then get appropriate treatment to improve the condition, otherwise, it could impact their vision.

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Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
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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.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Can astigmatism be cured by wearing glasses?

Astigmatism cannot be completely cured by wearing glasses. Astigmatism is a common eye disease and a type of refractive error, usually caused by congenital developmental abnormalities. Some patients' astigmatism is related to poor eye habits, such as squinting for long periods, which can lead to astigmatism. The cornea of people with astigmatism has different refractive powers in the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, when light passes through the cornea and enters the eyeball, it cannot converge to form a perfect focus, causing the images projected on the retina to become blurry, and the patient will experience a decrease in vision. By conducting an optometric examination, the exact degree of astigmatism and the axis of astigmatism can be determined, and then corrected by wearing glasses. However, the purpose of correction is to improve the patient's vision, and it cannot eliminate the degree of astigmatism.

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Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
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Can 300 degrees of astigmatism in children heal by itself?

Children with 300 degrees of astigmatism will not heal on their own. Astigmatism in children is usually congenital, meaning it is due to genetic factors. There are also a few cases where astigmatism is secondary, caused by poor eye habits or eye injuries, among other reasons. However, regardless of the cause, once astigmatism occurs, there is basically no possibility of it resolving on its own. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error that needs to be corrected by wearing glasses. Moreover, 300 degrees of astigmatism is considered high and can lead to eye fatigue over time. If not corrected, it can also have a serious impact on a child's vision, so parents must pay adequate attention.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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Can astigmatism and strabismus be corrected?

Astigmatism and strabismus can sometimes be corrected, depending on their severity. Astigmatism refers to the condition where parallel light rays entering the eye cannot focus on a single point on the retina after being refracted by the eye's optical system, instead forming two focal lines, ultimately failing to produce a clear image on the retina. Astigmatism can be categorized into regular and irregular types. Regular astigmatism can be corrected with cylindrical lenses in eyeglasses; while irregular astigmatism generally requires correction with contact lenses. Additionally, after reaching 18 years of age, astigmatism can also be corrected through refractive surgery. Generally, mild astigmatism does not impact vision and does not require special treatment; however, moderate to severe astigmatism, if uncorrected, might lead to amblyopia and other vision impairments. Strabismus means that when one eye is focusing, the visual axis of the other eye deviates from being parallel, presenting an abnormal eye position. It is generally recommended to start treatment immediately after diagnosing strabismus. If there is significant refractive error, glasses should be prescribed first. If glasses cannot correct the condition, surgery might be necessary.