Astigmatism is a common vision condition, an imperfection in the curvature of the eye’s front surface (cornea) or the lens inside the eye. This irregularity causes light to bend unevenly, resulting in blurred or distorted vision at any distance. Many wonder if astigmatism can resolve on its own or change over time.
Understanding the Condition
Astigmatism arises when the cornea or the lens within the eye has mismatched curves. Instead of a uniformly round shape, like a basketball, the affected surface is shaped more like a football or the back of a spoon. This irregular curvature means that light entering the eye focuses on two distinct points instead of a single, precise point on the retina, leading to blurry vision. The condition is often inherited, but can also develop due to eye injuries or certain eye diseases.
Natural Resolution
For most adults, astigmatism is a permanent condition that typically does not resolve without intervention. The structural irregularities in the cornea or lens that cause astigmatism are generally stable once eye development is complete. While minor fluctuations in prescription can occur, a complete natural resolution is rare in adulthood.
Situations Where Astigmatism Changes
While astigmatism generally remains stable in adults, it can change or decrease in specific circumstances and life stages. In infants, astigmatism is common, and many cases may reduce or disappear as their eyes develop, often by five or six years of age. This phenomenon, known as emmetropization, involves the eye naturally reshaping itself to focus light more accurately.
Aging can also influence astigmatism, with gradual changes occurring over the years. The prevalence of astigmatism can increase with age, and its axis can shift due to changes in corneal curvature and the eye’s natural lens, such as the development of presbyopia or cataracts. For instance, the lens can become less flexible, affecting its focusing power and potentially increasing astigmatism.
Certain eye conditions, injuries, or surgeries can also induce or alter astigmatism. Keratoconus, a progressive eye disease, causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape, leading to irregular and increasing astigmatism. Eye injuries, such as trauma or chemical exposure, can damage the cornea, resulting in an irregular healing process that changes its shape. Complications from eye surgeries, like cataract extraction, can sometimes lead to new or worsened astigmatism.
Management and Correction
Since astigmatism typically does not go away on its own, various methods are available to manage and correct the vision impairment it causes. Corrective lenses are a common and effective solution. Eyeglasses fitted with cylindrical lenses are designed to compensate for the irregular curvature of the eye, ensuring light bends properly for clear vision. For those preferring not to wear glasses, toric contact lenses offer a similar corrective approach, with specific designs to address the multiple focal points created by astigmatism.
For more permanent correction, refractive surgery options like LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) are available. These procedures use a laser to precisely reshape the cornea, correcting the irregular curvature and improving how light focuses on the retina. LASIK involves creating a thin flap in the cornea before reshaping, while PRK reshapes the corneal surface directly after removing the outer layer. Both are elective procedures aimed at reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.