In an eye without astigmatism, the front surface of the eye, the cornea, is evenly curved in all directions, rather like a smooth, round ball. In astigmatism, the cornea or, less commonly, the internal lens, is shaped more like a rugby ball or an oval. This means that light entering the eye is bent by different amounts in different directions.
Instead of coming to a single, sharp focus on the retina, light forms two focal lines or a blurred area. As a result, edges can appear smudged, lines may seem stretched or shadowed, and vision can be blurred at both distance and near. Astigmatism frequently occurs along with myopia (short sight) or hyperopia (long sight).
People with astigmatism often describe their vision as slightly warped or smeared. Letters on a page may look blurred or doubled, and difficulty seeing clearly at night is common. Prolonged reading, computer work, or detailed tasks can cause eyes to feel tired or achy, and headaches at the end of the day are frequent complaints.
Some people with astigmatism unconsciously squint, trying to narrow their eyelids to improve focus. In higher degrees of astigmatism, driving, watching television, and recognising faces at a distance can all be affected.
Astigmatism is most often due to inherited differences in eye shape and is present from an early age. It can remain relatively stable for long periods or change gradually over time. In some cases, astigmatism develops or becomes more irregular following eye surgery, trauma, or corneal disease.
A particular group of conditions, including keratoconus and other ectasias, cause a more pronounced, irregular astigmatism as the cornea becomes thinner and cone-shaped. In these cases, glasses may not fully correct the distortion, and more specialised management is needed.
Astigmatism is identified during a refraction test, where lenses are used to find the prescription that gives the clearest vision. The direction and amount of astigmatism are measured accurately.
To better understand the shape of the cornea, additional tests such as keratometry or corneal topography may be performed. These create a detailed map of the corneal surface and are particularly important if contact lenses, refractive surgery, or investigation for keratoconus is being considered.
Most people with simple astigmatism can be managed very effectively with glasses from their optometrist. You should consider specialist assessment if your astigmatism is changing rapidly, if your vision remains blurred despite updated glasses, if irregular astigmatism has been reported, or if you are interested in surgical options to reduce dependence on glasses.
Specialist review is also appropriate if keratoconus or other corneal disease is suspected.
Macula Hole / VMT Surgery is a precise retinal procedure that removes traction, closes macula holes, and restores central vision. With modern micro-incision techniques, the procedure offers excellent success rates and significant visual improvement for most patients.
Epiretinal membrane surgery removes scar tissue from the macula to reduce distortion and improve central vision. It is a safe, advanced retinal procedure with strong success rates and gradual, long-term visual improvement.
A Secondary Lens Implant, or Piggyback Lens Surgery, is a safe and precise way to correct residual refractive error after cataract surgery. By adding a customised lens in front of your existing implant, it restores sharp, balanced vision with minimal recovery time.
LASEK Eye Surgery corrects blurred vision by reshaping the cornea’s surface without cutting a flap. It’s ideal for thin or dry eyes, offering clear, comfortable, long-term vision through safe, flap-free laser precision.
LASIK Eye Surgery uses cutting-edge laser precision to reshape the cornea and correct vision problems such as short-sight, long-sight, and astigmatism. It’s quick, comfortable, and delivers life-changing clarity within hours.
YAG Capsulotomy is a quick, painless laser treatment that restores clear vision after cataract surgery by removing clouding behind the lens implant. It’s safe, effective, and takes only minutes — with instant results that last for life.
