What is solar散光 (astigmatism)?

Today, people face immense pressure in both their personal lives and professional work. They frequently stay up late working or overuse various electronic devices—habits that severely harm eye health and may easily lead to refractive eye disorders such as astigmatism. Although astigmatism is a common ocular condition, it warrants careful evaluation to accurately assess its severity and determine effective treatment options. So, what exactly is astigmatism?

What Is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism refers to a refractive error in which incoming light rays fail to converge into a single focal point on the retina; instead, they form two focal lines and a smallest blur circle. In other words, the eye’s refractive power differs across different meridians (axes). This uneven refraction is termed astigmatism. Only with appropriately prescribed toric (astigmatic) lenses can a clear image be focused onto the retina, enabling the patient to see clearly.

Symptoms of astigmatism include: • Reduced visual acuity, closely related to both the degree and type of astigmatism. Patients with mild astigmatism often maintain normal vision, whereas those with moderate or high astigmatism typically experience impaired distance and near vision. Visual acuity is only slightly reduced in simple astigmatism but significantly diminished in compound or mixed astigmatism. Inadequate correction may even lead to amblyopia (lazy eye). • Visual fatigue: The brain must constantly make fine adjustments to compensate for blurred retinal images. Moreover, objects appear distorted—especially in cases of hyperopic (farsighted) astigmatism—making visual fatigue more likely. Common symptoms include eye pain, excessive tearing, frontal headaches, double or shadowed vision, and an inability to sustain near-vision tasks for extended periods.

Individuals diagnosed with astigmatism are advised to practice daily eye care: adopt healthy, rational visual habits, avoid overusing the eyes, and consume foods rich in vitamins. We hope this information proves helpful to you.