Astigmatism: Is It Worsening or Just Nearsightedness? - Ophthalmology

More Info

---

Understanding astigmatism and its relationship with nearsightedness (myopia) can be quite complex, especially when experiencing symptoms like blurred vision at night or difficulty reading road signs from a distance. Let's break down your questions and concerns regarding your vision.

1. Understanding Your Symptoms: The symptoms you describe, such as seeing streetlights as blurry halos or having difficulty reading distant road signs, can indeed be attributed to both astigmatism and nearsightedness. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea (the front surface of the eye) is irregularly shaped, causing light to focus on multiple points in the eye instead of a single point on the retina. This can lead to blurred or distorted vision, particularly at night when the contrast between light and dark is more pronounced. On the other hand, nearsightedness means that you can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry.
In your case, the increase in nearsightedness (from -6.00 to -6.50 diopters) is significant and could contribute to your difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. The slight increase in astigmatism (from 0.50 to 0.75 diopters) is less pronounced but can still affect your overall visual clarity, especially in low-light conditions.
2. Adjusting Your Prescription: If your optometrist or ophthalmologist prescribes glasses that only increase the nearsightedness correction while keeping the astigmatism correction the same, you may still experience some blurriness with distant objects. This is because the astigmatism can still cause distortion in your vision, even if the nearsightedness is corrected. Ideally, your glasses should address both the nearsightedness and the astigmatism to provide the clearest vision possible. If you find that the current prescription does not adequately correct your vision, it may be worth discussing with your eye care professional about adjusting both parameters.

3. Assessing the Need for Astigmatism Correction: The statement that a 25-degree increase in astigmatism is not significant can be somewhat subjective. While it may not seem like a large change, any amount of astigmatism can affect visual clarity, particularly in certain lighting conditions. If you are experiencing noticeable blurriness or halos around lights, it may be beneficial to correct the astigmatism even if it is a small amount. The goal of corrective lenses is to provide the best possible vision, and if you feel that your current lenses are not meeting that standard, it is worth discussing further adjustments with your eye care provider.

In summary, both your nearsightedness and astigmatism can contribute to the visual symptoms you are experiencing. It is essential to have a comprehensive eye exam to ensure that your prescription accurately reflects your visual needs. If you are still experiencing issues with your vision after getting new glasses, do not hesitate to follow up with your eye care professional for further evaluation and potential adjustments to your prescription. Regular eye exams are crucial, especially as changes in vision can occur over time, and addressing these changes promptly can help maintain optimal visual health.