How to correct astigmatism

Adjusting astigmatism to improve visual experience and control refractive changes generally involves methods such as fitting professional corrective devices, performing targeted eye exercises, maintaining a scientifically sound eye-use rhythm, optimizing visual environments, and regularly monitoring vision status. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Fitting Professional Corrective Devices: First, visit a reputable institution for an accurate refraction test to determine the degree and axis of astigmatism, then select appropriate corrective devices. For eyeglasses, precision-crafted cylindrical lenses are required; for contact lenses, toric (astigmatism-specific) types can be used. These devices correct refractive errors, help the eyes form clear images, and reduce accommodative strain.

2. Performing Targeted Eye Exercises: Enhance flexibility and coordination of eye muscles through exercises such as alternating focus between near and distant objects, rotating the eyes clockwise and counterclockwise. Focus training can also be beneficial—for example, focusing on a nearby pen tip and quickly shifting gaze to a distant object. Repeated practice improves the eye’s accommodation ability and relieves astigmatism-related visual fatigue.

3. Maintaining a Scientific Eye-Use Rhythm: Avoid prolonged close-up work. After every 20 minutes of near work, look at an object 5 meters away for 1–2 minutes to relax the eye muscles. Keep the head upright while reading or writing, with eyes positioned 30–40 cm from the book or paper, minimizing excessive ocular accommodation and preventing worsening of astigmatism.

4. Optimizing Visual Environment Conditions: Ensure adequate and soft lighting in the visual environment. Avoid viewing objects under direct bright light or in dim conditions to prevent increased accommodative stress due to poor lighting. When using electronic devices, adjust screen brightness to match ambient lighting, and position the top of the screen slightly below or at eye level to reduce eye irritation.

5. Regularly Monitoring Vision Status: Have a vision checkup every six months to one year, paying particular attention to changes in astigmatism degree, axis orientation, and binocular visual function. If symptoms such as increasing blurriness or frequent eye fatigue occur, promptly adjust the correction plan to ensure it matches current vision needs and prevent further ocular complications due to improper accommodation.

If sudden vision decline or significantly worsened double vision occurs during adjustment, seek immediate medical evaluation. Children with astigmatism should receive early intervention to avoid delaying the critical period of visual development.