Is congenital astigmatism common in children?

Due to fluctuations in environmental lighting conditions and changes in ozone layer thickness, various electronic devices have become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. As a result, many children develop myopia or astigmatism at a very young age. When a child’s vision problems arise, prompt treatment is essential. So, how common is congenital astigmatism in children?

How common is congenital astigmatism in children?

Congenital astigmatism is relatively uncommon in children. While most childhood astigmatism stems from congenital factors, it can also result from trauma, corneal scarring, prolonged overuse of corrective lenses, abnormal eye alignment, or strabismus. When external light enters the eye, normal (emmetropic) vision occurs when the image focuses precisely on the retina; myopia occurs when the image focuses in front of the retina; hyperopia occurs when the image focuses behind the retina; and astigmatism occurs when parts of the image focus both in front of and behind the retina. Most children have normal vision. However, if significant changes in astigmatism are observed, it is important to investigate whether other underlying causes may be present.

Astigmatism typically remains stable over time but often leads to visual fatigue. When vision impairment results in persistent visual fatigue, corrective eyeglasses are recommended. The primary purpose of prescribing glasses for children is to ensure clear vision, support normal visual development, and alleviate visual fatigue. Once prescribed, children generally maintain a stable degree of astigmatism while wearing glasses—meaning they cannot simply “stop wearing” them. Congenital astigmatism—also termed physiological astigmatism—is irreversible in children and adolescents and cannot be cured. However, if the degree of astigmatism is mild (e.g., only a few to ten diopters, not exceeding 100 diopters), and does not impair unaided visual acuity, no intervention may be necessary.

Childhood myopia and astigmatism warrant attention. Parents are advised to take their children to a reputable hospital for comprehensive refraction testing. We hope this information has been helpful.