{"id":8785,"date":"2019-01-29T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eyebuydirect.com\/blog\/?p=8785"},"modified":"2024-08-27T10:31:31","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:31:31","slug":"what-is-astigmatism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eyebuydirect.com\/blog\/what-is-astigmatism\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Astigmatism?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS<\/a> on 7\/21\/2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Astigmatism is a refractive error that can affect a person\u2019s vision at multiple distances. Refractive errors are a group of eye irregularities that affect how the eye focuses light. In the case of astigmatism, the irregularity is found in the cornea and\/or the natural lens of the eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

For vision to be clear<\/span><\/a>, incoming light rays must focus directly on the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. The cornea and lens of the eye work together to focus the light perfectly, like a highly focused spotlight on a stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an eye with astigmatism, imperfections in the cornea, the lens, or both cause the light to disperse rather than focus. So instead of spotlighting the center of the stage, light scatters to several focal points around it.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to having blurry vision, astigmatic people often have trouble seeing in low-light conditions. This can make night driving difficult and potentially dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Types<\/span><\/h2>\n

Astigmatism can be categorized in a few ways. The first way to organize the refractive error is by cause. This separates it into three types:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n