Astigmatism is caused by an abnormal curvature of the eye that can cause the eye to become unable to focus light properly. Most often, people with astigmatism complain that they see halos around bright lights, particularly at night. For many people with this condition, it can take longer to focus on objects at different depths; there is a noticeable delay when switching from reading a book to looking at the TV, for example. This can make normal activities, such as driving at night, working in an office, or playing sports difficult. We at Today's Vision Barker Cypress serving Cypress, TX, know a lot about astigmatism.
How an Eye Doctor on Our Team Checks for Astigmatism
The condition is usually diagnosed by an eye doctor who uses special equipment to look at the shape of the eye. Astigmatism is usually described as a deformation of the lens which causes light to distort. The diagnosis can be done through a standard eye exam and an eye doctor on our team may use special equipment to look at the shape of the eye. A standard eye exam that does not use this equipment may not be able to accurately diagnose astigmatism.
Because the shape of the eye is different, people with astigmatism may not see total vision correction with conventional glasses. Astigmatism may be accompanied by nearsightedness, so many people with the condition may have some amount of vision correction with traditional lenses. Generally, however, people with astigmatism will need to have specially made contact lens set.
Treating Astigmatism with an Optometrist on Our Team
After an eye care doctor has diagnosed a patient with astigmatism, the standard course of action is to prescribe corrective lenses. For many years, there was no real solution for people with astigmatism. While vision can improve some with glasses, contact lenses are a good way to correct for the problems in the lens.
It is important to note that these specialty contact lenses are designed to work in only one orientation. This means that even people who have worn contact lenses for years will need to be briefly trained on how to correctly insert and use these lenses. Fortunately, this usually only takes a few minutes to learn.
A more permanent solution is to have LASIK surgery. This procedure reshapes the lens of the eye, essentially smoothing out the lens and making it possible for the eye to focus the light coming in without distortion.
Contact Us for a Contact Lens for Astigmatism from an Optometrist on Our Team
If you live in the Cypress, TX, area and you think you may have astigmatism, give our office a call at (281) 758-3083 Today's Vision Barker Cypress. An optometrist on our team can help people with astigmatism find the contact lens or surgical procedure that is right for them.
