Astigmatism

Introduction

Astigmatism, along with short sight and long sight, is a common cause of blurry vision. It's usually corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Astigmatism means your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football, so light is focused at more than one place in the eye.

This can cause:

blurred vision
headaches
eye strain (you may notice this after concentrating for a long time – on a computer, for example)

Astigmatism normally occurs alongside short sight or long sight.

In young children, a high astigmatism may cause lazy eye. It's important this is spotted early so it can be treated.

If astigmatism is affecting your eyesight, there are several ways to correct it.

Ways to correct astigmatism	Pros	Cons
Glasses	the cheapest option; may be available free or discounted on the NHS	could get lost or broken
Contact lenses	choice of soft or hard types; preferred by active people; may be free or discounted on the NHS	may not be suitable for everyone; risk of eye infection through poor contact lens hygiene
Laser eye or lens surgery	may be permanent; may be better for people with more severe vision problems	risk of complications during or after surgery; not available on the NHS; can be expensive; some side effects

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