Astigmatism

In order to see perfectly clearly, any object we look at needs to be uniformly in focus at the back of the eye. Astigmatism occurs when part of the image is always out of focus, causing blurred vision.

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What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

Most glasses wearers will have some form of astigmatism.

In more developed cases, or without treatment, symptoms could also include:

Headaches
Having to squint to see clearly
Eye strain or tiredness when focusing on prolonged tasks - like when you’re reading a book or a computer screen

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What causes astigmatism?

Astigmatism is usually something you’re born with, although it can develop later on in life due to age-related changes. It’s not clear why it happens, but it’s most likely linked to your genetics. You’re also more likely to have astigmatism if you’re short- or long-sighted.

Astigmatism could develop after:

An eye injury
Eye surgery
An eye disease

What help is available?

In most cases, astigmatism is easily corrected with either glasses, specialised contact lenses (called toric lenses), or even surgery.

Your optician will be able to detect astigmatism during a routine eye test, and they’ll recommend the best option for you.

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Did you know an eye test could save your life?

For some of our customers, an appointment with Specsavers has not only saved their vision but in some cases it has saved their lives.

We’re working with the National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI) to defend the nation against avoidable sight loss, and support those with eyesight difficulties.

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