Do objects at a distance sometimes look blurry or wavy to you? Astigmatism is a common eye condition which is caused by an irregular curvature of the eye's cornea or lens and means you can have blurred or distorted vision at near and far distances.
Most glasses wearers will have some form of astigmatism. In more developed cases, or without treatment, symptoms could include:
Headaches
Having to squint to see clearly
Eye strain or tiredness when focusing on prolonged tasks - for example when you're reading a book or looking at a computer screen
Astigmatism is usually something you're born with, although it can develop and vary later on in life due to age-related changes. It's also not clear why it happens, but this eye condition is most likely linked to genetics. You're also more likely to have astigmatism if you're short or long-sighted.
In most cases, astigmatism is easily corrected with either glasses, contact lenses, or even surgery. Your optometrist will be able to detect astigmatism during a routine eye test, and they'll recommend the best option for you.
Specsavers Optometrist David Aldridge talks to AM about the symptoms of astigmatism and how to correct it. Watch the video above to learn more.
This article was created for Specsavers.
