What causes astigmatism in the eyes?
Nov 12, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
In general, eye astigmatism may be caused by poor eye usage habits, congenital corneal developmental abnormalities, keratitis, corneal ulcers, ocular trauma, and other factors. Treatment should be determined according to specific situations. Daily care for astigmatism requires attention to eye hygiene, avoiding rubbing the eyes with hands, and preventing infections and worsening of astigmatism. Regular follow-up examinations of vision and astigmatism degree are necessary, with timely adjustments to the corrective plan according to any changes.
Generally, eye astigmatism may be caused by不良 eye habits, congenital corneal developmental abnormalities, keratitis, corneal ulcers, ocular trauma, and other factors. Management depends on the specific situation.
1.不良 Eye Habits: Prolonged squinting, rubbing the eyes, or incorrect eye usage posture may lead to astigmatism. It is recommended to maintain proper eye posture, avoid prolonged squinting and eye rubbing, and relieve discomfort by blinking or closing the eyes to rest.
2. Congenital Corneal Developmental Abnormalities: During embryonic development, if the cornea does not form normally, it may become oval or irregularly shaped, causing light not to focus evenly on the retina, resulting in astigmatism. It is recommended to wear corrective eyeglasses to correct astigmatism and undergo regular vision examinations to promptly adjust astigmatism correction levels.
3. Keratitis: Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, or other infections. During the inflammation process, the corneal tissue may swell or become infiltrated, altering the cornea's refractive properties and preventing accurate focusing on the retina, thereby causing astigmatism. It is recommended to use medications such as erythromycin eye ointment and ofloxacin eye drops under a physician's guidance for treatment.
4. Corneal Ulcer: Corneal ulcer is a progression of corneal inflammation, leading to corneal tissue defects. Light passing through such a cornea can cause severe scattering and refractive abnormalities, worsening the degree of astigmatism. It is recommended to use medications such as natamycin eye drops and tobramycin eye drops under a physician's guidance for treatment.
5. Ocular Trauma: When the eye sustains external impact, structures such as the cornea and lens may be damaged, altering the eye's normal optical structure and preventing light from focusing properly, thus causing astigmatism. Immediate medical attention is necessary after ocular trauma. If the injury is severe, surgical treatments such as corneal suturing or lens removal may be recommended under a physician's guidance.
Daily attention should be paid to eye hygiene to avoid rubbing the eyes with hands, preventing infection and worsening of astigmatism. Regular follow-up examinations of vision and astigmatism levels are recommended, with timely adjustments to the correction plan according to changes observed, to maintain ocular health.
