Signs and Symptoms of Astigmatism

Medically reviewed by Andrew Greenberg, MD

Astigmatism is a common eye condition that can cause vision distortion, resulting in symptoms like blurry vision and eye strain. People who don't have astigmatism have a cornea (the tissue that covers the front of your eye) and lens that are round, which allows light to bend through the eyes properly and produce clear vision. But astigmatism can happen when your cornea and lens are oval or egg-shaped. The change in shape and curvature affects how light bends and passes through your eye and causes blurry vision.

With astigmatism, it's common to have difficulty seeing fine details up close or at a distance. You might also experience headaches and eye strain due to squinting your eyes frequently to see clearly. Most people with astigmatism also experience worsened blurry vision at night.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1 out of every 3 people in the United States has astigmatism. Anyone can develop astigmatism, but the condition is more common if you are nearsighted or farsighted or recently experienced an eye injury. It's important to learn the symptoms of this condition early so you're able to get the treatment you need to correct your vision.

Blurry Vision

Blurry vision is the main symptom of astigmatism. How blurry your vision is usually depends on the shape and curvature of your cornea and lens. Astigmatism affects the sharpness of your vision, making it difficult to see objects or words properly. The blurriness also tends to worsen at night.

Usually, astigmatism occurs alongside other vision problems like nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia). When you're nearsighted with astigmatism, you can see things up close but objects far away are harder to see and more blurry. Farsightedness causes the opposite effect, making it easier to see objects that are far away but more difficult to see things up close.

It's worth noting that blurry vision can affect everyday activities like reading, driving, and working a computer, among others. If you have blurry vision, seeing an eye care provider like an optometrist or ophthalmologist can get you the glasses or contact lenses you need to correct your vision.

Eye Strain

Because astigmatism primarily causes blurry vision, most people start to squint their eyes to see objects or words clearly. As a result of the squinting, eye strain can occur and cause your eyes, eyelids, and facial muscles to feel sore and tired. If you are squinting your eyes for long periods of time, it's also common to have watery eyes.

Your eye strain is likely to worsen when you spend a lot of time looking at screens, such as on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV. To avoid eye strain while using screens, eye doctors recommend the 20-20-20 rule. This rule tells you to look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Headaches

Vision problems are one of the main causes of headaches in general. But when you have astigmatism, you may be squinting more often or putting in more effort to see clearly, which can cause headache symptoms.

Keep in mind: headaches on their own aren't a sign of astigmatism, but may be a symptom of another condition. However, if you're experiencing headaches alongside eye strain and blurry vision, it's important to seek care from an eye care provider. Aside from getting an updated prescription for glasses or contact lenses, your eye doctor may recommend other treatments like resting your eyes or taking over-the-counter pain relievers to improve symptoms.

Astigmatism in Children

Astigmatism also commonly occurs in children. According to a 2017 review published in the Journal of Current Ophthalmology, the prevalence of astigmatism in children is about 15%. But astigmatism can fluctuate with age. That's because a child's eye anatomy can shift during childhood.

In fact, nearly 40% of newborns have some degree of astigmatism. Symptoms can persist up until the child is four years old. As a child gets older, their eyes will start to form and mature over time, which usually results in reduced symptoms. But children who wear glasses early may be at a higher risk of experiencing astigmatism.

If you or your child are concerned about their vision, it's good practice to see an eye doctor early to correct astigmatism and improve vision. In many cases, children may not notice that they have blurry vision and might not complain about vision distortion. But untreated astigmatism in children can affect their performance in school and other day-to-day activities.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

You should contact an eye doctor if you are experiencing the common symptoms of astigmatism regularly, such as blurry vision, eye strain, or headaches. Additionally, children should get yearly eye screenings to identify astigmatism at an early age.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

If you decide to visit an eye doctor, consider asking them the following questions:

• Is my blurry vision a result of astigmatism or another condition?

• Can I still drive at night?

• Should I start wearing glasses or contact lenses?

• Do you recommend any specific type of glasses if I'm using screens often?
  

A Quick Review

Astigmatism is a common vision condition that affects 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. Common symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision, eye strain, and headaches. Children also experience astigmatism, so it's important to get yearly eye exams to identify vision impairments early. Fortunately, getting a correct prescription and wearing glasses or contact lenses will usually relieve astigmatism symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes astigmatism symptoms?

Astigmatism occurs because of abnormalities in the shape and curvature of the cornea and lens in your eyes. The cornea and lens in your eyes are round, which allows the light to pass evenly through the retina and produce clear vision. When you have astigmatism, the cornea and legs are oval-shaped, which makes it difficult for light to bend properly. Astigmatism symptoms can occur as a result of this change in shape.

Do glasses fix astigmatism symptoms?

Yes, wearing glasses or contact lenses will correct astigmatism symptoms.

What does astigmatism look like at night?

People with astigmatism often experience worsened blurry vision at night. It's also common to notice a glare or halos coming from bright lights, such as a stoplight. This can often make it difficult to drive at night if you don't have glasses or contact lenses that correct astigmatism.

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