Astigmatism is a common vision condition that can greatly affect a patient's ability to see clearly. Many people who get a diagnosis of astigmatism at their eye exam might choose prescription glasses to correct their vision, but there are also contact lenses available for astigmatism. To see an optometrist for your vision exam in Houston, TX, call our office to schedule your time. We at Ella Eyes are here to help.
What Is Astigmatism?
If you have a diagnosis of astigmatism, that means that your eyes are not perfectly round. They have a slightly abnormal shape that changes the way your eyes process the images they see. Round eyeballs are needed for vision to be clear, but astigmatism is present when the eyeballs have a shape similar to a football. Many people have a small amount of astigmatism that doesn't have much effect on their vision, but for those with worse astigmatism, they may need prescription glasses or specialty contact lenses that are designed for astigmatism.
Risk Factors for Astigmatism
If you have a family history of this vision condition, you are more likely to get it. Astigmatism can also develop later in life for some patients. There are certain eye diseases and injuries that can change the shape of the eyes and cause this condition. Patients who have had past eye surgeries are also more at risk.
Bending Light
Your eye shape has a lot to do with how well you see. When the eyeball is round, light enters it and then gets bent into different directions evenly. This is a key to having clear vision. However, if you have eyeballs that are shaped abnormally, the light comes in and is bent unevenly. This can cause blurry vision as well as distorted vision. It can mean that items look clear in one area and are blurry or distorted in others.
Astigmatism Symptoms
If things look blurry, it may be astigmatism or any of the other vision conditions that also cause blurry vision. However, when things look wavy and distorted, it may be a symptom of astigmatism. It can also cause problems with night vision. Astigmatism can be highly frustrating to patients because of the distortions and because patients might not be able to wear regular contact lenses.
Get an Eye Exam from an Optometrist on Our Optometry Team
Whether you want contact lenses or prescription glasses, you first need an eye exam from the optometrist. To see an optometrist in Houston, TX, give us a call today to make your appointment. We at Ella Eyes are here to help. Call us at (713) 722-9066 for more information.
