What Causes Astigmatism To Worsen?

If an eye doctor has diagnosed you with astigmatism, you probably already know that it can lead to blurred vision, eye strain, and trouble driving at night. But what causes astigmatism to worsen? 



As the top-rated optometrist in The Woodlands, we cover your most common questions about astigmatism, including what makes it worse and what treatments are available.

What Is Astigmatism? 

Even if you have a diagnosis of astigmatism, you may not know exactly what it is. Astigmatism is one of the refractive vision errors, alongside hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), and presbyopia (difficulty focusing up close that usually appears in middle age). A refractive error is what we call distorted vision caused by the shape of your eye.

With nearsightedness, your eye may be too long or curved to produce clear vision. With farsightedness, it is often too short or flat. Astigmatism occurs when you have an irregularly shaped lens or cornea. Your eye may have the shape of a football, which causes entering light to bend and distort more than is typical.

What Factors Contribute to Astigmatism?

In terms of what causes astigmatism to worsen, the following factors may come into play:

Aging

You can develop astigmatism at any point in life. However, it may become worse with age. Whether due to eye muscle strength, eyelid tension, or general wear and tear, your cornea often changes shape as you get older and may exacerbate your astigmatism.

Eye Injuries

The delicate structures of the eye are relatively prone to injury. Any number of things — foreign objects, chemicals, blunt force trauma, and surgery — can damage the cornea or lens. If your eye suffers permanent damage or heals irregularly, your astigmatism can worsen.

Keratoconus

A rare condition known as keratoconus can also exacerbate astigmatism. Keratoconus is a corneal-thinning disease that causes the cornea to weaken and bulge outward into a cone or pyramid shape. 

The irregular shape distorts light as it enters your eye, which can lead to blurry vision. The cause of keratoconus is unknown, but it may be linked to eye allergies, excessive eye rubbing, and certain eye disorders.

Other Factors

While research is still ongoing, some evidence suggests that gender, ethnicity, and the axis of astigmatism (where the astigmatism is) may also play a role in progression. In addition, if you have other refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, your astigmatism symptoms may feel worse.

How Can I Treat My Astigmatism?

Like the other refractive errors, eye doctors can typically treat astigmatism in a few ways.

Corrective Lenses

The first choice for astigmatism correction is usually eyeglasses. Glasses may help even with very high degrees of astigmatism.

If you prefer contact lenses, you'll be happy to know that they are also an option for addressing astigmatism. However, if you need powerful correction, you may not be able to use standard soft contact lenses. In that case, you may have to opt for rigid gas-permeable (hard) lenses or specially shaped aspheric or toric contacts. 

Laser Surgery

Laser eye surgeries like LASIK and PRK reshape the cornea to address astigmatism. Whether you are a candidate for refractive surgery depends on your eye anatomy and degree of astigmatism. A successful surgery could give you clear vision without glasses or contacts. 

Lens Implants

Another type of surgery implants synthetic lenses into your eye. During an intraocular contact lens (ICL) procedure, the doctor will insert a thin lens between your iris and your eye's natural lens.

With a refractive lens exchange, the surgeon will remove your natural lens and replace it with a synthetic version. This is often the procedure of choice for older patients who also have cataracts. 

Schedule Your Vision Care Appointment in The Woodlands With Superior Eye Care

Now that you know what causes astigmatism to worsen, you may wonder whether it's time to schedule an eye exam. Whether or not you have astigmatism, eye exams are essential to your vision health. If you're due for your regular screening or need urgent eye treatment, call Superior Eye Care at 281-298-5905.