Astigmatism

Astigmatism is caused by irregularities on the cornea. Thereby, incoming light cannot be refracted in the cornea and the eye lens, and can therefore not be focussed on the retina. A normal cornea is spherical and its surface is smooth. If this is not the case, one perceives a blurry image of the surroundings. There are two different types of corneal curvature. In the case of regular astigmatism, there are two focal lines and the incoming light is distorted in a rod-shaped way. This type of condition can be congenital or can develop in the course of one’s life. As regarding to irregular astigmatism, an irregularly curved cornea creates different focal points, producing a blurry image on the retina.

How corneal curvature becomes noticeable

While regular astigmatism is very often congenital, irregular astigmatism can be caused by injuries, cicatrisation (scarring) or other corneal defects. Persons concerned are not able to see clearly neither distant nor close objects. They try to compensate for it by blinking more often or by squinting their eyes, which constitutes a major effort for the eye and can often cause eye irritation or headache. Corneal curvature can occur in combination with short- or long-sightedness. In the case of more than 1 dioptre, it is strongly recommended to correct the astigmatism.

Recommended treatment options

A laser surgery is an appropriate treatment to correct astigmatism. We will gladly inform you about the following options in the course of a personal consultation:

Laser Eye Correction

Visual Defects