Astigmatism is an eye condition in which the eyeball, rather than being spherical, takes on a more oblong, football-like shape. This changes the way light goes through the eye, interfering with vision. Not everyone with astigmatism notices they have a problem, but it can get worse with age.
The symptoms of astigmatism largely center around vision. When light refracts (or bends) through a normal eyeball, to the retina, and then off to the brain, it bends to each side evenly. Astigmatism makes it so that this bend becomes uneven, tending more towards one side than the other. As a result, astigmatism makes vision blurry. Since astigmatism can be myopic, hyperopic, or mixed, this blurriness may affect what you see up close, far away, or even both.
Trying to fight this blurriness can eventually cause your eyes to feel strained and painful. This may extend beyond the eyes, causing headaches. Squinting is often a sign of astigmatism, as it tends to make what you’re viewing a little bit more clear, if only for a few seconds. Since children with astigmatism may not realize anything is wrong, this is a key symptom to keep an eye out for in kids who have yet to begin seeing a regular eye doctor. Many people with astigmatism notice their night vision is especially bad.If you think you have astigmatism, talk to your eye doctor about correcting it.
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