Astigmatism

An eye condition resulting from an irregular curvature of the eye. The eye is often more curved in one plane than the other, like a rugby ball compared with a soccer ball. Light is focused differently, giving not one, but two image points on the retina (the back area of the eye that processes visual images). This leads to increasingly blurred vision with increased amounts of astigmatism.
Symptoms can include squinting, eye strain or eye fatigue, and recurring headaches. Roughly one in three people have some form of astigmatism, and the chance of developing the condition increases with age. Optometrists have a lot of experience with diagnosing and treating astigmatism. The most common treatment for astigmatism is using glasses or contact lenses, which focus the image at a single point.