How is astigmatism treated?
Dec 25, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
Astigmatism may be caused by abnormal eye shape, improper eye usage habits, keratoconus, corneal trauma, cataracts, and other factors. It can usually be relieved through methods such as relaxing the eyes, wearing corrective devices, and surgical treatment. If you experience any vision abnormalities, it is recommended to seek timely medical examination. In daily life, you should take care to protect your eyes and avoid eye injuries and excessive eye strain.
Astigmatism may be caused by abnormal eye shape, improper eye usage habits, keratoconus, corneal trauma, cataracts, and other factors. Generally, it can be relieved through eye relaxation exercises, wearing corrective optical devices, or surgical treatment. If experiencing any abnormal vision issues, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Abnormal Eye Shape: Some individuals are born with irregular eye shapes. For example, an uneven curvature of the cornea or lens surface can prevent light from accurately focusing on the retina, resulting in astigmatism. Wearing appropriate glasses or contact lenses can help correct vision and ensure proper focusing of light.
2. Improper Eye Usage Habits: Prolonged near-distance activities such as reading or using computers or mobile phones may cause eye muscle tension, affecting the eye's focusing ability and potentially causing or worsening astigmatism. It is recommended to maintain correct eye usage posture, periodically look into the distance to relax the eye muscles, and appropriately perform eye massage and warm compresses.
3. Keratoconus: Keratoconus is a degenerative corneal disease characterized by thinning and forward protrusion of the central or paracentral cornea, leading to abnormal corneal curvature and resulting in astigmatism. Symptoms may include decreased vision and rapidly progressing myopia. Treatment options include wearing rigid gas-permeable contact lenses (RGP), corneal collagen cross-linking, or corneal transplantation, depending on the severity of the condition.
4. Corneal Trauma: Eye injuries such as impacts or scratches may alter the corneal shape, causing astigmatism, as well as symptoms like eye pain, tearing, and redness. Minor injuries may benefit from wearing a corneal bandage contact lens to promote healing, while severe injuries may require surgical interventions such as corneal suturing or corneal transplantation.
5. Cataracts: Cataracts refer to visual impairment caused by reduced lens transparency or color change. Lens opacity can interfere with light refraction, leading to astigmatism and other vision problems, including blurred vision, photophobia, and double vision. Treatment primarily involves surgery, such as phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation, to restore lens transparency and refractive function.
In daily life, it is important to protect the eyes, avoid eye injuries and excessive eye strain, and undergo regular eye examinations to detect and treat ocular problems promptly.
