Home » Blog » What is an Astigmatism?

Posted by: Georgia Center for Sight

Have you ever heard the word “astigmatism” in a TV commercial or read about it in a magazine, but didn’t care enough to learn more?  Here at Georgia Center for Sight, we want to help you understand what an astigmatism is and how it can be corrected.

According to the American Optometric Association, an astigmatism is defined as “a common vision condition that causes blurred vision and occurs when the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) is irregularly shaped or sometimes because of the curvature of the lens inside the eye.”  To simplify, it means that the cornea is shaped like a football instead of a basketball. An astigmatism often accompanies either near or far-sightedness and is therefore much more common than the general public has come to believe. In fact, almost everyone has some level of an astigmatism, but the degree to which it is an issue is the most important thing to understand. 

An easy test to help you determine if you suffer from this is coined the “brake light test.” The concept is simple– if you see beams of light coming out of a car’s brake lights at night, you may have an astigmatism. This test often reveals shocking results to those who believed they had perfect vision and can indicate when it is time to seek help from a certified ophthalmologist such as Dr. Dong.

If you have determined that you have an astigmatism, there are several courses of action that can help remediate the condition. First and foremost, it is recommended that you make an appointment at our office so we can diagnose the issue. Subsequently, our team can prescribe contact lenses or prescription glasses to correct an astigmatism. 

Another option to combat an astigmatism includes LASIK surgery. Patients with an astigmatism are often among the happiest LASIK patients. With WaveLight® refractive technology, Dr. Dong will perform laser vision correction designed to work with your eyes’ unique attributes.

Don’t let an astigmatism get you down! Our team at Georgia Center for sight is ready and willing to help.  Call our Athens office at (706) 546-9290 to schedule an appointment today.