Astigmatism why gets worse

This is due to the fact that your cornea the transparent surface of the eye is football-shaped instead of the more normally-spherical structure of an emmetropic eye when light rays that enter the eye come to perfect focus on the retina; this is ideal vision. With a rounder shape, the eye can properly control the amount of light that enters, making it easier to see clearly.

An irregularly-shaped eye, however, means that the light that enters is unevenly distributed, thus resulting in blurred vision. What we do know is people who have astigmatism are typically born with this this condition, meaning their eye resembles a football to begin with. Though much less likely, trauma or injury to the eye may force this shape to shift too. While this was once believed to be a sure-fire way to develop the condition, consider that myth debunked. You can thank your mom and dad for this one: as previously mentioned, an oddly-shaped cornea is a genetic trait, just like the colour of your eyes, which may have been passed down from one generation to the next.

So the blurry vision you start to notice over time may very well be out of your control. The first reason why you should absolutely get the astigmatism correction surgery is because, in most cases, this surgery takes the form of a LASIK surgery. Because of this, the likelihood of you being injured during the surgery is slim to none. The main way to ensure that your LASIK surgery is successful and goes without a hitch is simply to work with a capable and local eye doctor you know you can trust.

As with almost every single eye condition, astigmatism only gets worse over time. This makes vision blurry because there are two image points.

The eye has two structures with curved surfaces that bend refract light onto the retina, which makes the images:. In a perfectly shaped eye, each of these elements has a round curvature, like the surface of a smooth ball. A cornea or lens with such curvature bends refracts all incoming light equally to make a sharply focused image directly on the retina at the back of the eye. If either the cornea or the lens is egg-shaped with two mismatched curves, light rays aren't bent the same, which means that two different images form.

These two images overlap or combine and result in blurred vision. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens is curved more steeply in one direction than in another.

You have corneal astigmatism if your cornea has mismatched curves. You have lenticular astigmatism if your lens has mismatched curves. Either type of astigmatism can cause blurred vision. Blurred vision may occur more in one direction: horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Astigmatism may be present from birth, or it may develop after an eye injury, disease or surgery. Prescriptions past this will often need to consider custom-made soft lenses or hard rigid gas permeable contacts. Despite this, glasses and contact lenses do not suit all lifestyles and activities.

Fortunately, we now have access to surgical options , such as refractive surgery. Both for patients who find spectacles inconvenient, or those unable to wear contact lenses :. This will depend on the anatomy of each individual eye, such as the thickness of corneal tissue available for reshaping with the laser. This is a minimally invasive technique that sculpts the inner layers of the corneal tissue through a keyhole incision.

Same as a cataract surgery procedure and often recommended for older patients. Particularly for whom, presbyopia the natural age-related decline of near focus has developed. The amount of astigmatism corrected depends on the parameters of the IOL design. Looking for astigmatism treatment options past ordinary glasses and contact lenses? Contact Eye Laser Specialists for your complimentary eye exam and consultation to discuss how eye surgery can help you on Not everyone can benefit from laser eye treatment — your options change depending on your eyes, age and lifestyle.

Find out which type of treatment is right for you by taking this quick 2 min quiz:. About the expert. Based in Melbourne, but with a reputation that transcends borders, Dr Van Heerden sets the highest bar for laser vision correction surgery in Australia. You can sit back and enjoy the journey knowing every detail has been carefully considered. WhatsApp us. The first step is to get yourself to a free consultation so you can find out whether you can benefit.

Can Astigmatism get worse? The Astigmatism Analogy Astigmatism is often explained with the analogy of a ball. Symptoms include: Blurry, distorted vision Increased difficulty with vision at night-time such as driving at night Headaches and eyestrain Glare sensitivity, especially from oncoming headlights or street lamps at night Can Astigmatism Get Worse?