Astigmatism: Is It Worsening or Just Myopia? - Ophthalmology

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Astigmatism is a common refractive error that occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape, causing blurred or distorted vision. It can often coexist with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). Your questions about whether your symptoms are due to worsening astigmatism or myopia, and how adjustments to your prescription might affect your vision, are very relevant and important for understanding your visual health.

1. Understanding Your Symptoms: The symptoms you describe—seeing streetlights as blurry halos at night and having difficulty reading road signs from a distance—can indeed be attributed to both astigmatism and myopia. The increase in your myopia from -6.00 to -6.50 diopters indicates that your ability to see distant objects clearly has decreased. The slight increase in astigmatism from 0.50 to 0.75 diopters is relatively minor, but it can still contribute to visual disturbances, especially in low-light conditions. Astigmatism can cause light to scatter, leading to the "starburst" effect around lights at night, while myopia primarily affects distance vision.

2. Adjusting Your Prescription: If you choose to only increase the myopic correction while keeping the astigmatism correction the same, you may find that your distance vision improves, but the blurriness around lights may not fully resolve. This is because the astigmatism still contributes to the distortion of light entering your eye. Ideally, your prescription should be adjusted to address both myopia and astigmatism for optimal clarity. If your astigmatism is not corrected adequately, you may continue to experience some level of distortion or blurriness, particularly at night.

3. Deciding on Astigmatism Correction: The fact that you can still see the lights and read the signs, albeit with some distortion, suggests that your current level of astigmatism may be manageable for you. However, if the distortion is bothersome or affects your daily activities, it may be worth discussing with your eye care professional whether an increase in the astigmatism correction could provide you with clearer vision. The goal of any corrective lens is to provide the best possible vision with the least amount of distortion.

In summary, both myopia and astigmatism can contribute to the visual symptoms you are experiencing. It is essential to have a comprehensive eye examination to determine the best course of action for your vision correction. If your symptoms are affecting your quality of life, it may be beneficial to adjust both the myopic and astigmatic components of your prescription. Regular follow-ups with your eye care provider will help monitor any changes in your vision and ensure that your prescription remains appropriate for your needs.