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Symptoms of an Astigmatism

An astigmatism is an irregularity in the curvature of the eye's surface. Astigmatism impairs the eye's ability to refract light, which causes blurry vision, headaches and eye strain. The degree of astigmatism can range from barely noticeable to severely impairing vision.

  1. Blurry Vision

    • The defining symptom of an astigmatism is blurry vision at any distance due to the eye's inability to properly refract light.

    Squinting

    • Squinting the eyes to see objects both near and far is a common symptom of astigmatism. Squinting alters light refraction and can offer temporary and slight vision improvement.

    Eye Strain

    • Eye strain can be painful and results from the eyes overworking to correct irregular light refraction. It may feel like the eyes ache and cannot be relaxed.

    Eye Fatigue

    • As the eyes overwork themselves to counteract astigmatism, they may become exhausted and fatigued. It may feel relieving to keep the eyes shut.

    Headaches

    • Blurry vision, eye strain and fatigue may lead to vision-related headaches. These headaches are usually recurring and in the same area.

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