Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is shaped like a football (more curved in one direction than the other) and often occurs in combination with myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). This causes light to focus in more than one point on the retina, resulting in blurry and distorted vision.

Symptoms of Astigmatism

• Blurry distorted vision at all distance
• Difficulty adjusting your focus when switching from near to distance vision

Are You at Risk?
Causes of astigmatism include heredity, eyelid swellings, corneal scars and Keratoconus.

Diagnosing Astigmatism
At the Kleiman Evangelista Eye Center, we can conduct a refractive evaluation to determine whether your eyes focus light rays exactly on the retina at distance and near. A visual acuity test will determine your ability to see sharply and clearly at all distances. Your eye doctor will also check your eye coordination and muscle control, as well as your eyes' ability to change focus. All of these are important factors in how your eyes see.

Treating Astigmatism
If you or your child suffers from astigmatism, glasses and contact lenses may be used for temporary treatment. There are several procedures performed at the Kleiman Evangelista Eye Center that can surgically reduce or eliminate astigmatism.