How to determine if your eyes have astigmatism
Nov 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
To determine whether the eyes have astigmatism, one can observe daily visual symptoms and eye sensations, which generally include blurred or distorted lines, squinting or tilting the head to see objects, and varying clarity when viewing in different directions. With normal vision, straight lines appear sharp and well-defined; however, if astigmatism is present, horizontal, vertical, or oblique lines may appear blurry, hazy, or bent.
Whether the eyes have astigmatism can be determined by observing daily visual symptoms and eye sensations, which generally include blurred or distorted edges when viewing straight lines, seeing halos or double images around lights, easy eye fatigue and soreness, squinting or tilting the head to see objects, and differences in clarity when viewing objects in different directions. Specific details are as follows:
1. Blurred or distorted edges when viewing straight lines: With normal vision, the edges of straight lines appear sharp and well-defined. However, individuals with astigmatism may experience blurriness, fuzziness, or bending distortion when viewing horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines. This effect is particularly noticeable when looking at grid-like patterns, where some lines may appear significantly blurrier than others.
2. Seeing double images or halos around lights: In low-light conditions or at night, people with astigmatism may notice prominent halos surrounding lights or perceive multiple ghost images extending in various directions, rather than a single focused circular point of light. The farther the light source, the more pronounced these effects become.
3. Easy eye fatigue and soreness: After prolonged use of smartphones, computers, or reading, individuals with astigmatism often experience eye strain, dryness, and sometimes even headaches or pain around the eye sockets. These symptoms persist despite rest, as the eyes continuously adjust to compensate for the blurry vision caused by astigmatism.
4. Squinting or tilting the head to see clearly: To improve blurry vision, individuals with astigmatism may unconsciously develop habits such as squinting, which reduces the pupil size and minimizes the impact of astigmatism. Some may also tilt their heads to adjust the angle of gaze, attempting to find a clearer line of sight. Over time, this can lead to discomfort in the head and neck.
5. Varying clarity in different directions: People with astigmatism may experience differing levels of visual clarity depending on the orientation of the object. For example, horizontal text may appear clear while vertical text appears blurry—or vice versa—due to unequal refractive power across different meridians of the eye.
If several of the above symptoms are present, it is recommended to promptly visit a professional ophthalmology clinic or optometry center for a comprehensive eye examination to determine whether astigmatism exists and to measure its degree accurately.
