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What Is Astigmatism? Your Annapolis Eye Doctor Explains

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You have undoubtedly heard the term Astigmatism before. You know it is a condition dealing with the eyes, but do you really know what astigmatism is? Fortunately board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, your Annapolis Eye Doctor, is here to explain.

“I treat my patients the way I want to be treated when I see a doctor,” said board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Boles who, along with the eye care specialists at AAEC, has helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Dr. Boles does more than just treat patients. As Medical Director, he cares for them with expertise, compassion and respect. He is also passionate about educating patients about various eye diseases and conditions.

What Is Astigmatism? Your Annapolis Eye Doctor Explains

A person’s eye is naturally round. Astigmatism is a common type of refractive error caused by an eye that is not completely round. In fact, the eye of a person with astigmatism is shaped more like a football. This causes light entering the eye to refract more in one direction than the other, which results in blurry vision when observing objects at a distance.

Signs and Symptoms of Astigmatism

  1. Blurred vision

  2. Eyestrain

  3. Fatigue

If you are suffering from the above symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – as soon as possible. Astigmatism is easily corrected by eyeglasses or contact lenses. Another method for correcting astigmatism is refractive surgery, which changes the shape of the cornea.

What Is Astigmatism

If you have any questions about Astigmatism and wish to schedule an appointment with the Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

Astigmatism and Your Eyes WebMD

What is Astigmatism?

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Astigmatism: it is a term thrown around all the time in eyeglasses and contact lens commercials. But how many of you really know what astigmatism is? Aside from the fact that it is a common eye condition, how many of you know how astigmatism affects the eye? Well, let’s find out…

What is Astigmatism?

This common refractive error occurs when an eye is not completely round. This causes light entering the eye to refract more in one direction than the other, allowing only part of an object to be in focus at one time. Under normal conditions, when light enters the eye, it refracts (bends) evenly, creating a clear view of the object you are looking at.

Symptoms of Astigmatism

  1. Blurred Vision
  2. Fatigue
  3. Eye Strain
  4. Headaches

If you have any two of the above symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. While these symptoms may not necessarily be the result of astigmatism, it is best to consult with your eye doctor. He/she can easily diagnose astigmatism with a comprehensive eye exam with refraction testing.

Astigmatism Treatment

If you are diagnosed with astigmatism, don’t worry. Astigmatism occurs in nearly everybody to some degree. Plus, the eye condition is easily corrected using eyeglasses or contact lenses. Surgery is another treatment option.  Surgical options include, LASIK, Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK), or a toric intraocular lens, which is often successfully combined with cataract surgery.

What is Astigmatism?

To determine which course of treatment is best for you, discuss your unique situation with your eye doctor. He/she will be able to guide you in the right direction.

If you have any questions about Astigmatism or wish to schedule an appointment with the Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

Astigmatism and your Eyes WebMD

An Overview of Common Eye Disorders explained by your Annapolis Eye Doctor

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Blurry vision, spots, eye strain, headaches, trouble reading, and glare are just a few of the common warning signs of eye problems. If you are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms, it is important to visit your eye doctor as soon as possible. She will be able to examine your eyes and administer tests to evaluate and diagnose a variety of eye problems including the following:

eye disorders

Common Eye Issues

  • Myopia: More frequently referred to as nearsightedness, Myopia affects 33% of all Americans between the ages of 12 and 54. This common eye problem results in the blurring of vision when viewing objects at a distance.
  • Hyperopia: More frequently referred to as farsightedness, Hyperopia is a common focusing problem resulting in the blurring of vision when viewing objects that are near.
  • Presbyopia: This common age-related eye problem results in the blurring of one’s vision when reading. Presbyopia is a result of the normal aging of the eye’s lens.
  • Astigmatism: When the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, is shaped more like a football than a basketball, light rays do not focus properly on the retina. This results in blurred vision. Astigmatism is commonly treated using glasses or contacts.
  • Glaucoma: This common eye disease is actually a group of eye diseases, all of which lead to damage of the optic nerve, usually as a result of a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP). The optic nerve carries visual information from the eye to the brain.
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration: AMD damages the central part of the retina, known as the macula, and may eventually permanently distort a person’s central vision.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy: Currently, between 40-45% of Americans with diabetes have some varying degree of Diabetic Retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease and one of the leading causes of blindness in American adults. This common eye disease results in damage to the blood vessels in the eye, which leads to damage to the adjacent retina.
  • Cataracts: As we grow older, our eyes undergo natural wear and tear, resulting in the clouding of the lens in the eye, better known as cataracts. In fact, more than half of all people age 80 and older are affected by cataracts.

And that is just the beginning!

Medical Eye Exams at Anne Arundel Eye Center

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases.

Not only does an AAEC offer a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision, but board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles is passionate about further educating patients and their families about the eye disease they are afflicted with.

To learn more about Common Eye Diseases, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Source: What Eye Problems Look Like WebMD

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Astigmatism Diagnosis & Treatment in Annapolis, Maryland

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The cornea is responsible for bending or refracting light rays, focusing that light onto the retina. When the cornea is not symmetrical, it is unable to properly focus light. And when the cornea is unable to properly focus light, vision is affected. This is known as astigmatism.

Causes of Astigmatism

Astigmatism can be caused by several different factors, including:

  • Astigmatism can run in families
  • Trauma
  • Scarring of the cornea from lacerations
  • Keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea becomes progressively cone shaped
  • Infection
  • Heavy eyelids
  • Lenticular astigmatism

Signs and Symptoms of Astigmatism

The most common symptom associated with astigmatism is blurred or blurry vision. Additional symptoms include:

  • Difficulty reading
  • Inability to see both close and distant objects
  • Eye strain
  • Headaches
  • Tired eyes

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – as soon as possible. He or she will be able to properly diagnose your situation and provide treatment recommendations.

Astigmatism Treatment

There are several effective treatments for astigmatism, including:

  • Eyeglasses: With lenses shaped to counteract the abnormal shape of the cornea, eyeglasses can effectively alleviate the symptoms of astigmatism.
  • Toric Contact Lenses: These special contact lenses are designed to return to their original position every time a person blinks, unlike traditional contact lenses. This helps compensate for any abnormal curvature of the cornea.
  • LASIK: Your ophthalmologist will actually use a laser to reshape the cornea, correcting any abnormalities.
  • Astigmatic Keratotomy: Also known as limbal relaxing incisions, astigmatic keratotomy is a surgical treatment consisting of strategically placed, tiny incisions on the steepest curves of the cornea. This allows light to focus more precisely on the retina.

To learn more about Astigmatism, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Astigmatism Directory WebMD

Astigmatism: Eye Care Advice from Anne Arundel Eye Center in Maryland

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Astigmatism is a common type of refractive error of the eye, which causes blurred or blurry vision. Other refractive errors include farsightedness (hyperopia) and nearsightedness (myopia).

How Astigmatism Affects Sight

Normal Sight: Light enters the eye through the normal spherical curve of the cornea; this light is then bent (refracted), thus better focusing it on the retina.

Astigmatism: With this type of refractive error, the cornea is abnormally curved in one direction more than the other. Because of this, light is not able to properly focus on the retina, causing images to appear blurry.

Astigmatism Symptoms

 

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Eyestrain
  • Blurred vision / Difficulty seeing fine details

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at your earliest convenience. Astigmatism can be easily identified with a comprehensive eye exam with refraction testing.

If you are diagnosed with astigmatism, do not worry. For starters, everyone experiences astigmatism to some varying degree. The higher the level of astigmatism the more likely treatment will be beneficial to help improve vision.

Astigmatism Treatment

Typically, astigmatism is treated with corrective glasses or contact lenses. However, surgery may be an option for those individuals who do not wish to wear glasses or contact lenses. Surgical options include, LASIK, Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK), or a toric intraocular lens, which is often successfully combined with cataract surgery.

To determine your best course of action, discuss your specific situation with your eye doctor. He/she will be able to better explain the risks and benefits of surgery as compared to wearing glasses or contact lenses.

To learn more about Astigmatism and Eye Health please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Glaucoma and Cataracts may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter,Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Astigmatism PubMed Health

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