Astigmatism Specialist
-
- Tweet
Pine Vision Care
Optometrists & LASIK Consultation located in Philadelphia, PA & Newtown Square, PA
Astigmatism causes blurry vision and often occurs along with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). Even though astigmatism can mean you’re hard-to-fit when it comes to contact lenses, our doctors, at Pine Vision Care in Philadelphia has you covered. With our help, you’ll have optimal vision correction again very soon. Book your appointment online 24/7, or call the office to schedule today.
Astigmatism Q & A
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common eye issue in which your eyes can't properly focus light, causing blurry vision. Most patients who suffer from astigmatism also have myopia or hyperopia. Astigmatism can occur in both children and adults.
What are the symptoms of astigmatism?
The main sign of astigmatism is blurry vision. If you suffer from pronounced astigmatism, your vision is blurry both close-up and at a distance, while mild astigmatism may cause blurry vision at either distance alone. You may also suffer from:
- Headaches
- Eyestrain
- Poor night vision
The number of symptoms can depend on the degree of astigmatism. Very mild astigmatism may cause no obvious symptoms at all. Our doctors typically check for astigmatism during your comprehensive vision exam, so it's very important to have your regular exams to diagnose and treat it early.
Why does astigmatism develop?
Astigmatism typically happens when your eye has an oval shape instead of the round shape eyes normally have. Because of the elongated shape of your eye, your cornea stretches out in such a way that it can't focus light onto your retina as it should.
Sometimes, astigmatism is inherited. It can also develop due to trauma to the eyes or corneal scarring after eye surgery. If you suffer from keratoconus, which causes your corneas to bulge out in a cone shape, you may eventually develop astigmatism.
What is the treatment for astigmatism?
At Pine Vision Care, our doctors treat astigmatism on a case-by-case basis. From mild astigmatism to high astigmatism, there's a treatment that can help you maintain optimal vision. Astigmatism sufferers may need specialty contact lenses, which you can wear even if you're hard-to-fit in contact lenses normally.
Another option for astigmatism is orthokeratology (OrthoK). In OrthoK, you'll wear a set of rigid gas-permeable hard contact lenses at night while you're asleep.
OrthoK lenses gradually remold your cornea into a rounder shape, which helps correct astigmatism and improve your vision issues. OrthoK is safe for both kids and adults and can be started as early as age 7-8. OrthoK can also help control myopia.
Our doctors will work with you to determine which astigmatism treatment suits your needs the best. Book your appointment at Pine Vision Care online or by phone today.
