What Is Astigmatism?

Mr Glenn Carp = “In astigmatism, a patient presents with a non-spherical cornea.  We are going to have one steep curvature in one direction and in 90 degrees to that a very flat curvature and it is this discrepancy in the steepness and flatness of the cornea which causes distortion of the light coming in.  So as opposed to a spherical shape, which is just as what we find in short-sightedness or long-sightedness astigmatism is a band of steepening of the cornea in one particular direction.”

Astigmatism Explained Further…

Astigmatism occurs when your cornea is shaped like a football with two different curvatures. Images appear blurred or ghost-like because light rays are refracted unequally. In extreme cases, images both up close and for distance appear blurred. Many people who have myopia also have astigmatism. Astigmatism is treated using an oval laser beam, unlike myopia and hyperopia, which use circular beams. Laser Eye Surgery treats astigmatism.