What is astigmatism?

Think of your eye like a basketball — perfectly round and smooth. Now, swap that for a football-shaped eye surface, and that's what astigmatism is. It’s a classic curveball where the cornea or lens isn’t playing fair, bending light wonky and leaving your vision looking fuzzy, stretched, or downright distorted. Straight lines might look like they’ve been through a funhouse mirror. 

Astigmatism loves to crash the nearsightedness or farsightedness party too, making your world a little more complicated. It’s not a disease, but it can make you squint, give you headaches, and cause eye fatigue faster than you can say, "20-20-20 rule." Luckily, it’s highly fixable, with options that match your vibe, whether you’re a glasses aficionado or a contact lens rebel.

What causes astigmatism?

Most of the time, you can blame your eyeball’s wonky shape on your family tree. If your folks needed toric lenses, you’re probably in the club. But it’s not all genetics. Injuries, surgeries that mess with your cornea, and conditions like keratoconus (a cone-shaped eye) can throw your eye’s curve off balance.

Getting into optics:

• Normal vision: Evenly curved cornea giving light perfect focus

• Astigmatic vision: One meridian is steeper than the other, so light splits across two focal points — hello, warped visuals

Aging also plays a cameo, tweaking your lens shape over time. That’s why keeping up with eye exams is a power move, helping you catch those changes before your vision throws you a curveball.

What does astigmatism look like?

If you could snap a through-the-eyes pic of astigmatism, it’s like your vision got stretched in one direction or the world’s been printed on a wrinkled poster. Streetlights might sprout extra beams like they’re reaching for the stars, and text can look shadowy or doubled.

Symptoms of astigmatism include:

1. Shapes sparkle with distorted light.

2. Long Zoom calls or late-night “just one more episode” binges leave you with bleary eyes and sneaky headaches.

3. Oncoming headlights, neon signs, and car brake lights glow with halos and glare.

4. Vision stays fuzzy whether your eyes are looking over yonder or right under your nose.

Astigmatism doesn’t look the same for everyone — regular astigmatism bends light evenly in one direction (think tidy football shape), while irregular astigmatism scatters it unpredictably, so no two eyes see quite the same distortion. 

Because astigmatism often plays tag-team with myopia or hyperopia, your vision may be blurred at both near and far distances. That’s why describing your symptoms to your eye care professional (and getting a proper refraction test) matters. They can pinpoint the distortion pattern and match you with the right fix.

For folks over 70, astigmatism may play pranks like shading or glare that affect driving or reading. Suddenly, your world looks softly out of focus, and your eyes might want a recalibration.

How can astigmatism be corrected?

Astigmatism isn’t something you can cure like a cold sore. Instead, it’s something you can treat with the right solution. Think of it like tuning your eyes to the perfect frequency. No system reboot required, just a sleek optical upgrade.

Your correction options? They cover all bases:

• Toric contact lenses

• Prescription glasses

• Laser eye surgery

• Toric intraocular lenses implanted during cataract surgery

Each one fits a different vibe and lifestyle. Let’s break down what makes each one special.

Toric contact lenses

Toric lenses are soft contacts crafted with different powers along precise meridians to match your astigmatism axis. Clever design tweaks, such as gravity-balancing weights, keep them from spinning out of place.

Pros:

• Comfortable, breathable, and perfect for daily wear

• Ideal for active folks or anyone who isn’t into glasses

• Available in daily, biweekly, or monthly options

Cons:

• Can rotate a bit, causing temporary blur until you blink them back in place

• Might need a couple of fittings to get the perfect match

Best for: Contact lens fans who want sharp, stable vision with the freedom to move

Glasses with astigmatism correction

Glasses with astigmatism correction are prescription lenses with cylindrical power added to balance out your eye’s uneven curve.

Pros:

• Simple, accessible, and easy to customize

• Can be paired with blue light filters, transitions, and more

Cons:

• Might feel “off” during quick head turns or fast movements

• Potentially warped peripheral vision, compared to contacts

Best for: Glasses lovers who want a fuss-free style upgrade with sharp vision

Laser eye surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE)

With laser eye surgery, precision lasers reshape your cornea to smooth out irregular curves causing astigmatism.

Pros:

• Often permanent, long-lasting correction

• Quick procedure with rapid results

• No more daily lens care

Cons:

• Dependent on corneal thickness and eye health

• Can cause temporary dryness or light sensitivity after surgery

Best for: Adults over age 18 with stable prescriptions and healthy eyes who are ready to ditch glasses and contacts

Toric intraocular lenses

Toric intraocular lenses are artificial lenses a surgeon implants during cataract treatment that tackle cataracts and astigmatism in one go.

Pros:

• Clears cataracts and corrects astigmatism

• Permanent, maintenance-free solution

Cons:

• Only an option during cataract surgery

• Not adjustable once implanted

Best for: Cataract patients who want a streamlined vision upgrade

Can LASIK fix astigmatism?

Yes — and beautifully. Modern laser treatments tackle mild to moderate astigmatism effectively. Just make sure:

• Your prescription has been stable

• Your corneas are thick enough for safe sculpting

• You’re not battling conditions such as dry eye or keratoconus

Chat with your eye care professional to see if you’re a match for laser brilliance.

What should you avoid if you have astigmatism?

There’s a short list of things to avoid when you have astigmatism, but they have a big impact:

• Eye rubbing: Warps your cornea (not like the one in Star Trek)

• Ignoring blurred vision or glare: Not giving into your “I’ll sleep it off” lazy brain and overlooking a problem

• Skipping eye exams: A one-and-done vision exam — astigmatism evolves

• Sitting glued to screens: Staring into your work laptop or YouTube without using the 20-20-20 rule 

Ready to get crisp vision again?

Why wait to see the world clearly? Get your toric lenses delivered fast and easy because your eyeballs deserve the best. Shop 1-800 Contacts now and ditch the eye shopping hassle for good. 

Did you know you can order contacts online? 

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts! 

FAQs

Still pondering about astigmatism? Keep reading the following questions and answers: 

Is astigmatism bad?

Nope, astigmatism isn’t bad. In fact, it’s almost as common as a dropped contact lens, affecting up to 62% of people worldwide. It’s a manageable refractive hiccup that modern optics handle with ease. Fixes are sharp, effective, and live-your-life-friendly.

Can keratoconus cause astigmatism?

Oh, for sure. Keratoconus is astigmatism’s wild cousin, turning your cornea from a football into a rogue ice cream cone — or pyramid shape if you want to get fancy. It messes with your vision big time, causing irregular astigmatism that’s tough to tame with regular glasses or soft contacts.

Expect prescription changes that may give you whiplash, plus glare, halos, and light sensitivity that crash your night vision party. Managing keratoconus means stepping up your game with rigid gas-permeable lenses, hybrid contacts, or corneal cross-linking to slow the chaos. 

Original publish date: 2/28/2022

Updated date: 11/5/2025