When vision becomes blurry, patients often assume they are simply 'nearsighted' or 'farsighted'. However, a significant portion of vision issues stem from a common structural anomaly known as astigmatism. Understanding the mechanics of your eye is the first step to correcting it.
The Mechanism of Astigmatism
A normal cornea is perfectly round, like a football. In an eye with astigmatism, the cornea is shaped more like a rugby ball. This irregular curvature prevents light from focusing on a single point on the retina, causing vision to appear stretched or distorted at all distances.
Precision Correction
Unlike standard myopia (nearsightedness) which requires a simple spherical lens, astigmatism requires a specific cylindrical lens prescription. During an eye exam, our optometrists measure the exact axis and degree of the corneal irregularity to craft a lens that perfectly counteracts the distortion, restoring sharp, singular focus.