5 Facts About Astigmatism

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EyeQue Team

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October 1, 2019

Have you ever heard someone tell you they have astigmatism? You may know astigmatism causes vision problems, such as blurred or distorted vision, but now’s your chance to learn five important facts about this condition.

1. Astigmatism occurs when your eye’s cornea or lens is improperly curved.

The irregular curves of your cornea or lens prevent light from refracting properly through your eyes, causing a form of refractive error. Along with other hereditary factors like your eye color, you genetically inherit your likelihood of developing this condition.

2. You can develop it as an adult.

Although children often experience astigmatism, you don’t necessarily have to be born with the condition to develop it. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports you can develop astigmatism as a result of eye disease or injury, or after having eye surgery.

3. Using electronic screens doesn’t cause astigmatism. 

Did your mom ever tell you not to sit too close to the television because it would cause this condition? The AAO says this belief is just a myth! Although staring at screens, reading in dim light, and even driving long distances can cause eye strain as your eyes try to focus on an object for an extended period of time, these activities won’t increase your likelihood of developing it.

4. It can’t be corrected by regular eyeglasses or contact lenses.

In the past, treating it could be difficult, as only certain types of glasses and rigid contacts (called RGP contacts) could correct the refractive error. However, it can now be corrected by normal eyeglasses and soft contact lenses. LASIK eye surgery is another option for correcting this condition but can be very expensive.

5. You can test your eyes for astigmatism at home to order corrective lenses.

With EyeQue VisionCheck, you can find your EyeGlass Numbers at home and order glasses online! This mobile vision test only takes a few minutes to complete.

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