Sunday 25 December 2011
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Perhaps you have undergone recurring headaches that do not seem to have any diagnosis, though they are accompanied with fatigue, inability focusing, and a certain degree of eyestrain. If your doctor does not seem to connect your headache with anything directly relating to your brain, it is possible that you are suffering from eye problems. These, among others, are typical symptoms of astigmatism.
What is astigmatism? Simply put, it is an eye disorder wherein the cornea of the eye, or the lens, is curved in an irregular way. Of course, most people have curvature of these lenses to some degree, but when this curve is severe or extreme, it typically requires correction. This is also the time when symptoms occur. In addition to the headaches and fatigue, severe astigmatism may cause double vision, the constant need of squinting to see objects, as well as blurry sight.
The natural curve of the eye is circular, but a person with astigmatism typically has an almost oval shape of the lens of the eyes. This means that when light comes into the eye, the light is refracted in many directions all at one time; this means that only part of the object in sight is in right focus. All other directions may be blurry. In contrast, a person without astigmatism has light coming into the eye and getting refracted evenly: this means that the person can focus clearly on the objects.
But what causes astigmatism? Experts believe the main cause is heredity. Parents who have astigmatism have a great likelihood of having children who also have it. To dispute misconceptions, reading in low light, a poor diet, or watching the television from too close a viewpoint do not cause astigmatism. Instead, some other causes of astigmatism include injury, disease, surgery-related complications, or pressure on the cornea coming from the eyelids.
How do you know if you have astigmatism? The best way would be to consult an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. A comprehensive eye exam is needed to determine the extent of a person’s astigmatism. The severity of the condition can change over time; this is why eye doctors recommend patients with astigmatism to undergo an eye exam at least yearly.
How is astigmatism treated? Minor cases usually do not need treatment. As for more serious cases, when the condition is found early on, doctors typically prescribe corrective glasses or contact lenses. Corrective glasses are typically worn over a period of time, and the eyes get corrected and the patient will not have to wear them anymore after such time. These are very practical as well as convenient for the patient. The reminder remains, though, that the patient will have to update his prescription regularly as long as he is wearing the glasses. Contact lenses for astigmatism are also available, although these are limited to soft and hard non-disposable lenses, as the plastic lens is designed to reshape the cornea to the prescribed correction.
Other than these non-surgical modes of treatment, astigmatism may also be treated with surgery, although this is generally reserved for the most extreme cases. One of the most common ways of treating astigmatism with surgery is known as conventional LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. During surgery, a flap of corneal tissue is made with a microkeratome, a mechanical knife. Laser energy is then concentrated to the cornea beneath the flap; after the laser has effectively reshaped that area, the flap is put back in place. Other types of surgery go by many different names, although the basic premise is that it utilizes laser energy to reshape the cornea.
Unfortunately, since astigmatism is hereditary, there has not yet been found any way to prevent the occurrence. The best recourse would be simply for a person to get a diagnosis as early as possible so that corrective treatments may still be done. Fortunately, corrective glasses and contact lenses have been proven to have satisfactory and permanent results in terms of correcting the shape of the cornea. If you are wondering about surgery, be sure to consult your ophthalmologist, as he will be the one to perform a comprehensive evaluation on you to see if you are an ideal candidate for the procedure.
Astigmatism: Do you Have it?
What is astigmatism? Simply put, it is an eye disorder wherein the cornea of the eye, or the lens, is curved in an irregular way. Of course, most people have curvature of these lenses to some degree, but when this curve is severe or extreme, it typically requires correction. This is also the time when symptoms occur. In addition to the headaches and fatigue, severe astigmatism may cause double vision, the constant need of squinting to see objects, as well as blurry sight.
The natural curve of the eye is circular, but a person with astigmatism typically has an almost oval shape of the lens of the eyes. This means that when light comes into the eye, the light is refracted in many directions all at one time; this means that only part of the object in sight is in right focus. All other directions may be blurry. In contrast, a person without astigmatism has light coming into the eye and getting refracted evenly: this means that the person can focus clearly on the objects.
But what causes astigmatism? Experts believe the main cause is heredity. Parents who have astigmatism have a great likelihood of having children who also have it. To dispute misconceptions, reading in low light, a poor diet, or watching the television from too close a viewpoint do not cause astigmatism. Instead, some other causes of astigmatism include injury, disease, surgery-related complications, or pressure on the cornea coming from the eyelids.
How do you know if you have astigmatism? The best way would be to consult an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. A comprehensive eye exam is needed to determine the extent of a person’s astigmatism. The severity of the condition can change over time; this is why eye doctors recommend patients with astigmatism to undergo an eye exam at least yearly.
How is astigmatism treated? Minor cases usually do not need treatment. As for more serious cases, when the condition is found early on, doctors typically prescribe corrective glasses or contact lenses. Corrective glasses are typically worn over a period of time, and the eyes get corrected and the patient will not have to wear them anymore after such time. These are very practical as well as convenient for the patient. The reminder remains, though, that the patient will have to update his prescription regularly as long as he is wearing the glasses. Contact lenses for astigmatism are also available, although these are limited to soft and hard non-disposable lenses, as the plastic lens is designed to reshape the cornea to the prescribed correction.
Other than these non-surgical modes of treatment, astigmatism may also be treated with surgery, although this is generally reserved for the most extreme cases. One of the most common ways of treating astigmatism with surgery is known as conventional LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. During surgery, a flap of corneal tissue is made with a microkeratome, a mechanical knife. Laser energy is then concentrated to the cornea beneath the flap; after the laser has effectively reshaped that area, the flap is put back in place. Other types of surgery go by many different names, although the basic premise is that it utilizes laser energy to reshape the cornea.
Unfortunately, since astigmatism is hereditary, there has not yet been found any way to prevent the occurrence. The best recourse would be simply for a person to get a diagnosis as early as possible so that corrective treatments may still be done. Fortunately, corrective glasses and contact lenses have been proven to have satisfactory and permanent results in terms of correcting the shape of the cornea. If you are wondering about surgery, be sure to consult your ophthalmologist, as he will be the one to perform a comprehensive evaluation on you to see if you are an ideal candidate for the procedure.
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