Astigmatism is a common eye condition where the cornea or lens has an irregular curvature, similar to a football instead of a perfectly round baseball. This irregularity causes light to bend unevenly as it enters the eye, resulting in blurred or distorted vision. Yes, astigmatism can indeed contribute to feelings of dizziness and affect your balance.
Understanding Astigmatism and Dizziness
The connection between astigmatism and dizziness stems from the brain’s attempt to interpret inconsistent visual information. When the eye’s irregular shape causes light to focus on multiple points instead of a single clear image on the retina, the brain receives blurred or wavy signals. This constant struggle to achieve clear focus can lead to significant eye strain and visual fatigue.
The visual system works in close coordination with the inner ear (vestibular system) and the body’s sense of position and movement (proprioceptive system) to maintain balance and spatial orientation. When vision is distorted, the brain receives conflicting signals from these systems. This mismatch can disrupt the body’s sense of equilibrium, potentially leading to sensations of disorientation, lightheadedness, or dizziness.
Astigmatism can interfere with binocular vision. If one eye perceives an image more clearly or differently than the other, it can impact depth perception and spatial awareness, contributing to feelings of imbalance. Studies suggest that individuals with vision impairments, including astigmatism, report dizziness at a higher rate than those with normal vision.
Other Common Symptoms of Astigmatism
Beyond dizziness, astigmatism presents with several other recognizable symptoms. The most frequent complaint is blurred or distorted vision. Many people with astigmatism experience headaches, particularly after engaging in prolonged visual tasks like reading, using a computer, or driving.
This is a direct result of the eyes constantly straining to achieve a clear image. Eye strain and discomfort are also common, sometimes described as a burning sensation or general fatigue in the eyes.
Difficulty with night vision is another significant symptom, where individuals may notice glare, halos around lights, or streaky appearances, making nighttime driving challenging. Squinting is a natural reflex that many people with astigmatism adopt in an attempt to improve focus. In some cases, astigmatism can also lead to double vision.
Seeking Diagnosis and Vision Correction
If you suspect you have astigmatism or are experiencing associated dizziness, consulting an eye care professional is important. A comprehensive eye exam is used to diagnose astigmatism.
During the exam, an eye doctor may perform a visual acuity test, where you read letters on an eye chart, and a refraction test. The refraction test involves looking through a device called a phoropter while the doctor switches different lenses to find the precise prescription that provides the clearest vision. Other tests, like keratometry or corneal topography, can measure the curvature of your cornea.
Astigmatism can be corrected through several methods. Corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or toric contact lenses, are common solutions. Toric contact lenses are specifically designed with varying thicknesses to compensate for the irregular curvature of the eye. Refractive surgery, such as LASIK, is another option that permanently reshapes the cornea.