Astigmatism in children is usually present at birth or it can develop later in life. It is not an eye disease; it is simply a problem with how the eye focuses or "refracts" light onto the back of the eye (retina).
Most cases of astigmatism are hereditary and appear at birth. For some people, the condition can develop later in life. Eye injuries or surgeries may also cause astigmatism due to corneal damage. Vision problems due to astigmatism can get worse as time goes on.
How is astigmatism diagnosed? Starting at about 6 months, children should have regular eye exams to catch conditions like astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia. An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will examine the child's eyes and measure the shape of the corneas.
Astigmatism is often present at birth but it can also develop over time, and most often occurs with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). The rate of astigmatism significantly increases from 14.3% in the under 15-year-old age group to 67.2% in the age group of over 65-years old.
Astigmatism is one of the most common childhood vision problems. About 10% of preschool children have astigmatism, according to a study funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Most older kids and teens with astigmatism need eyeglasses or contact lenses to help them see clearly. Very young children and kids with mild astigmatism may not need treatment. Sometimes children outgrow astigmatism as they get older.
Astigmatism may be present from birth, or it may develop after an eye injury, disease or surgery. Astigmatism isn't caused or made worse by reading in poor light, sitting too close to the television or squinting.
Astigmatism will not go away on its own. It will either stay the same or get worse with age. While this reality can seem daunting, the good news is that it can be easily corrected.
It is easily corrected, and although astigmatism can cause your vision to be blurry it rarely causes any permanent damage to the health of your eyes. If you experience blurred vision, headaches or eye strain, having a complete eye exam may lead to a diagnosis and treatment of this easily-dealt-with condition.
While astigmatism cannot be cured, glasses and contact lenses can be used to treat the blurry vision that results from having astigmatism. For those wishing for a more permanent solution to blurry vision, refractive surgery is required.
Doctors don't know what causes astigmatism, and there's no way to prevent it. Some people are born with astigmatism, but many people develop it as children or young adults. Some people may also develop astigmatism after an eye injury or an eye surgery.
Can Glasses Help Astigmatism? Yes, glasses can correct astigmatism and dramatically clarify your eyesight. Glasses for astigmatism are fitted with corrective cylindrical lenses that help to properly refract light onto the retina of the eye.
It's often present at birth, but it may develop later in life. It may also occur as a result of an injury to the eye or after eye surgery. Astigmatism often occurs with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Sometimes, though, a rare condition called keratoconus causes astigmatism.
If left untreated, astigmatism may cause eyestrain, headaches, and blurry vision. If you have astigmatism you may not see objects in the distance or near without some form of distortion.
Your eye care specialist will measure any changes in your eye during future eye exams. Astigmatism can change over time and get worse, so you might need glasses or contacts eventually, even if you don't at first.
Astigmatism can distort lights in several ways, and instead of a clear image, you might see: Streaky lights. Haloed lights. Blurry lights.
It can go on for a week or 5 to 6 days if you have moderate or severe astigmatism. If the problems are less bothersome then give them enough time of 3 to 4 days but if it goes on to make you feel uncomfortable, visit your eye doctor and get your glasses checked. How to adjust to new glasses without the pain?
Astigmatism frequently worsens with age. Your cornea can become more irregular due to pressure from your eyelids as they lose muscle tone. Astigmatism generally stays stable until your turn 50. After then, your lens curvature progressively worsens each decade.
Wearing corrective lenses treats astigmatism by counteracting uneven curvatures of your cornea or lens. Types of corrective lenses include: Eyeglasses. Eyeglasses are made with lenses that help compensate for the uneven shape of the eye.
Flatter frames are better for astigmatism. Wraparound or curved frames can bend the light in a way that distorts your vision. Also, be sure to choose a frame that sits securely on the bridge of your nose to keep your vision clear and in focus.
Rubbing your eyes is one habit that could cause astigmatism. In fact, frequent rubbing could eventually change the shape of your corneas. Rubbing also increases your risk of keratoconus, a condition that makes the corneas thin and cone-shaped.
Does astigmatism affect night driving? Driving at night is difficult enough for those with perfect vision — but for people with astigmatism, it can be even more difficult. In low light conditions, the blurry vision associated with astigmatism can become worse.
The results showed that smartphone use while walking for only 30 minutes significantly increased corneal H/V astigmatism, but was not significant for use while sitting (Fig 1, two-way ANOVA repeated measures: experimental conditions X time interaction: F(1, 28) = 8.09, p = 0.008).
Overuse of Electronic Devices: The excessive use of smartphones, tablets, computers, and other electronic devices could lead to astigmatism, as well as dry eye. Improper Light Levels: Watching TV or using electronic screens in the dark can cause eye strain and eye fatigue and possibly be a cause for astigmatism.