What’s astigmatism?

Astigmatism causes refractive errors as either the cornea is shaped more oval like a rugby ball than round like a football, or the lens has mismatched curves. As a result, light is focused on more than one place at the back of your eye, causing blurred vision.

If you have astigmatism, you have probably found yourself squinting to try to see distant objects, read menus or use your smartphone. What’s more, you may experience headaches or eye strain when concentrating for longer periods, such as when driving or working with computer screens.

Astigmatism can also affect depth perception, making it difficult to judge how far objects are. And you may also see halos or glare when looking at lights, particularly at night. This could make driving in the dark problematic, especially when trying to deal with the glare from oncoming headlights.

If any of these situations are familiar, you should mention this to your doctor during your eye examination.