Are you considering getting your first pair of astigmatism correction prescription glasses? Are you confused about what astigmatisms are, and wondering if you need vision correction for it? Read on below!
What is an astigmatism?
Astigmatisms are caused by imperfections in the curvature of the eye’s cornea. Rather than seeing complete blurriness at certain distances, people with astigmatisms see hazy or blotched spots in an otherwise clear image. The most common vision related issues people experience are nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatisms. All three are the result of light not being properly received into the eye. When a person ages, their eyeballs eventually get longer. Nearsightedness and farsightedness are the result of these elongations in the eyeball. When this happens, incoming light begins to have trouble focusing into the retina, causing near or far away images to appear blurry.
Understanding Your Astigmatism Correction Prescription
For a general guide on reading the basics of your eye prescription, look here!
When consulting your personal eye doctor, it’s important to keep three numbers on your prescription in mind. They’re extremely crucial in learning if astigmatism correction prescription glasses are right for you!
- CYL: When a glasses prescription mentions “CYL”, it is referring to the degree of correction needed to adjust your astigmatism.
- Axis: Next, your prescription will list another important statistic: Your “Axis”. The axis refers to how misaligned the imperfections in your cornea are, in geometric degrees.
- SPH: Even if you have an astigmatism, you may also be in need of slight adjustments for near or far sightedness! When a glasses prescription mentions “SPH”, it is referring to the degree of correction needed to adjust your near or far sightedness.
Symmetry, in Translucent
Can Glasses Fix Astigmatism?
Glasses can fix astigmatism if you get them specifically made to accommodate your personal prescription. They’re the easiest and safest way to give people with astigmatisms the vision correction they need! While contact lenses are another option, if they are inserted incorrectly or sloppily into your eye they have a high chance of worsening your astigmatism.
Do I Need Glasses for Astigmatism?
It’s a common misconception that astigmatisms are mostly a problem for middle-aged people and older individuals. In fact, astigmatism often begins in your early childhood! Unlike nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatisms in the eye are the result of imperfections in the cornea — not elongations of the eyeball. People with astigmatisms require specially made glasses.
Myths about Astigmatism Glasses
When it comes to the value and efficiency of astigmatism correction prescription glasses, you’re bound to encounter some myths. Here’s just a few of the many misconceptions we frequently hear people talk about. Get ready to bust some myths!
Myth: A person’s astigmatism can get even worse if they forget to wear their astigmatism correction glasses for a long period of time.
FALSE! No, your astigmatism won’t worsen if you forget to wear your glasses. On the other hand, wearing your astigmatism correction prescription glasses won’t cure your astigmatism over time, either!
Myth: Vision problems that are caused by astigmatisms can be corrected with the same kind of glasses used to correct vision problems caused by nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Myth: Using contacts can make my astigmatism worse!
FALSE! Contacts made to fit your astigmatism prescription are completely safe. However, when a person places them in their eyes incorrectly, complications can happen. Sloppily inserting contact lenses can create irritating air bubbles between your eye and contact lenses. In the long run, these bubbles can damage your cornea and potentially worsen your astigmatism.
We hope we’ve cleared up any confusion you might have about astigmatism vision correction. If you’re considering getting your own astigmatism correction glasses prescription, don’t hesitate to visit your personal optician and find out if they’re right for you! At EyeBuyDirect, we’re happy to provide dozens of helpful articles to make your next step for better vision clearer. Take a peek here to find everything from trending style guides to instructional videos. Find your perfect pair of glasses today!
