Ortho K Astigmatism Treatment
Orthokeratology lenses have not only been shown to improve vision clarity, but also correct astigmatism.
What is astigmatism?
One in three people are diagnosed with astigmatism.
Astigmatism is one of the common things that optometrists encounter and diagnose every day among patients that walk inside the clinic. When a person has astigmatism, structures within the eye are not perfectly round and can appear warped. This causes your vision to look blurry and distorted. Astigmatism is not a disease, it is a condition that can easily be corrected with corrective glasses, orthokeratology or laser eye surgery also known as lasik.
When light passes through a cornea with astigmatism, this causes our vision to look distorted, foggy or blurry. Most of us are born with some form of astigmatism that may or may not progress.
If you don’t know if you have astigmatism, you can easily check your recent eye exam result and prescription. When you check your eye prescription, you can look under the column that is labelled CYL and AXIS. The higher the number is, the higher the corrective requirement.
The simplest way to correct astigmatism is through glasses. However, this is not the best way to correct it due to the distortion that you get when looking through glasses as compared to options like contact lenses that directly covers the surface of the eye.
Many forms of eye procedures can correct astigmatism. You will have to consult with your optometrist if you qualify for corrective eye surgery for astigmatism.
Those with astigmatism will experience blurry vision from all distances due to the front surface of their eye or the lens inside the eye being curved in different directions from each other.
Astigmatism often affects children, making it difficult for them to concentrate in class or participate in sports.
The Ortho K Group provide Ortho K correction for astigmatism, which is able to correct vision distortion in vertical and horizontal directions. Ortho K can provide satisfactory results in low to moderate cases of astigmatism (generally up to -2.50).
Eye Astigmatism
Eye Astigmatism is a common eye condition with about one in three people having some degree of it. This eye problem makes your vision blurry, fuzzy, or distorted. This happens when the surface of our eye, also called cornea, has an irregular shape. This then prevents light entering the eye from being correctly focused on your retina. Aside from imperfect curves of corneas and lenses, defects in other structures within the eye may also cause eye astigmatism.
Eye astigmatism is not a disease and is generally considered to be treatable. In fact, it is common for babies to be born with eye astigmatism which eventually clears up within a few years. Not all babies outgrow this condition. Not having it corrected can impact their learning and development negatively. Scheduling regular eye exams is important in order to detect eye astigmatism and other uncorrected eye conditions.
There are three most commonly recognized treatments for eye astigmatism including eyeglasses, contact lenses, and eye surgeries. Eyeglasses and contact lenses both offer simpler ways to correct the condition. The other option of eye surgeries is a more permanent solution. However, the Ortho K treatment is an option for a non-invasive procedure without the need to wear glasses throughout the day. A consultation with your optometrist regarding which solution is most appropriate for you is recommended.
Ortho K Benefits For Astigmatism
Ortho K provides numerous benefits as a treatment for astigmatism including:
- Convenient for those who play sports, especially contact or water sports where glasses are unsuitable.
- Fuss-free for people working in dusty or dirty environments that make it difficult to care for glasses or regular contact lenses.
- Comfortable for people who cannot wear contact lenses throughout the day due to dry eyes, allergies or environmental factors.
- Suitable for children and teens who may otherwise feel uncomfortable with wearing glasses or may not be able to properly care for their contact lenses.
Simply wear your orthokeratology lenses overnight to enjoy clear vision during the day, without the need for bulky glasses or uncomfortable day time contact lenses.
Contact the Ortho K Group today for bespoke Ortho K for astigmatism to finally enjoy freedom from the irritating symptoms of astigmatism!
When should I get an astigmatism test?
A person can have astigmatism and not notice a significant difference. However, there are a few common signs and symptoms that would indicate the need for an astigmatism test. Astigmatism can be addressed either by prescribed eye glasses, contact lenses, refractive eye surgery or orthokeratology otherwise known as ortho k. Here is what you should look out for in case you are thinking of getting an astigmatism test:
1. Blurry vision
Because astigmatism is an irregularly curvature in your eye that makes objects appear blurry or distorted, know that a constant blur in your vision is not normal.
2. Squinting
It is a common habit or rather an instinct of humans to squint when having difficulty seeing or focusing the eyes on certain objects that may appear unclear. If you find yourself constantly having or feeling the need to squint in order to see properly, consider going to your optometrist for an eye check up, specifically, an astigmatism test.
3. Chronic Headaches
It is one thing to get a headache but to regularly experience one on a daily and constant basis is not normal. If your headaches come whenever you try to read, work or watch a movie, it is time to visit your optometrist to address your concern.
4. Eye strain
Discomfort or pain in your eyes that may also present as throbbing and is not something that you should just assume as normal. Our vision affects our daily activities and our quality of life. If you feel any discomfort whenever you try to perform your usual tasks, particularly ones that involve focusing on small text or staring at devices with screens that emit blue light-consider that as of the common symptoms and get your self checked through an astigmatism test alongside any other eye exams that your optometrist has recommended.
5. Challenged vision at night
Our eyes work with how objects reflect light. Given that astigmatism makes our vision appear blurry, the absence of light makes it all the more difficult. If you feel like you are challenged specially at night to focus your eyes even after a good rest, we recommend seeing your optometrist right away.
To sum it up, these are just the common symptoms of astigmatism. However, having all these symptoms does not always mean you have astigmatism. It could be other forms of eye conditions such as myopia or hyperopia or it can even be other underlying conditions. Our recommendation is to always have your eyes checked especially if there is difficulty in seeing and if there is pain. Best to be on the safe side and get regular eye check-ups if you are experiencing any symptoms as you may be experiencing the early stages of astigmatism.
We have clinics that you can visit in Melbourne. To schedule an appointment with us or to inquire, click here or give us a call at 1300 88 2020. Our eye care professionals are trained and experienced to assess, diagnose and treat eye conditions through traditional and advanced methods.