IS ASTIGMATISM DANGEROUS?

According to the latest statistics in 2024, the rate of refractive errors in Vietnam is increasing rapidly and accounts for about 40% of the country's population. In which, astigmatism is one of the common refractive errors that can appear at any age. So is astigmatism dangerous? In the article below, let's learn more about astigmatism and scientific treatment methods when suffering from this condition with Japan International Eye Hospital.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a condition in which light does not converge accurately on the retina, leading to the phenomenon of blurred or distorted images.

The main cause of astigmatism is due to the cornea or lens of the eye having an uneven curvature. Some factors that can increase the risk of astigmatism include:

• Inherited from parents to children.
• Eye trauma.
• After eye surgery.
• Complications from other diseases such as corneal scarring, corneal degeneration, keratoconus, etc.

In astigmatic eyes, light rays converge at multiple points on the retina instead of one point like in the normal eye

Astigmatism can appear independently or in conjunction with other refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Common symptoms of astigmatism include:

• Seeing objects distorted, 2-3 blurry shadows appearing at all distances.
• Headache, dizziness, especially when having to focus on an object for a long time.
• Frequently feeling tired eyes or discomfort in the eye area.
• Seeing glare or halos around light sources.
• Tears often without a clear cause.

Is astigmatism dangerous?

Astigmatism is not a dangerous disease because it does not cause complete loss of vision and can be effectively treated. However, if not detected early and treated promptly, this condition can lead to a number of consequences such as:

• Reduced quality of life: Astigmatism reduces the ability to see objects clearly, making daily activities (such as driving, reading, playing, exercising, etc.) more difficult. This also affects the patient's learning and working performance.
• Risk of amblyopia in children: Children with astigmatism, if not treated promptly, may face the risk of amblyopia. This condition causes vision loss that cannot be improved by wearing glasses/contact lenses, causing negative effects on the child's future vision quality.

How to prevent astigmatism

Currently, there is no method that has been proven effective in preventing astigmatism, especially astigmatism due to genetic factors. However, according to medical experts, patients can apply a scientific lifestyle and protect their eyes properly to limit the risk of this refractive error.

• Use protective glasses when working in dusty or dangerous environments.
• Avoid moving near construction areas.
• Be careful when participating in adventurous activities such as mountain climbing, skydiving, etc.
• When there is an injury or infection in the eye, it is necessary to go to a medical facility for examination and receive treatment instructions from a doctor, avoid using drugs on your own that cause complications and leave scars on the cornea causing astigmatism.
• Some other notes to help protect general eye health include:
• Keep a reasonable distance of about 60cm when reading or using electronic devices, set up a workspace with enough light, wear blue light blocking glasses if using electronic devices.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Treat diseases that cause astigmatism (keratoconus, cataracts, corneal scars, ...).
• Get additional treatment if complications occur after eye surgery.
• Have an eye exam every 6 months to check for astigmatism and have treatment instructions when necessary.

Can astigmatism be cured?

With the development of ophthalmology today, astigmatism can be improved by wearing glasses or effectively treated with advanced refractive surgery methods.

Using glasses

Patients can correct astigmatism by using glasses/contact lenses with the appropriate astigmatism, helping light converge correctly on the retina, thereby improving vision and providing clear images.

For patients who do not want to depend on glasses/contact lenses, they can refer to Ortho-K night glasses, suitable for mild astigmatism under 3 degrees. Ortho-K glasses work by reshaping the cornea when worn for 7-8 hours while sleeping, thereby eliminating temporary astigmatism during the day.

Astigmatism surgery

When they are 18 years old, patients can consider refractive surgery methods (Phakic, ReLEx SMILE, Femtosecond Lasik) to completely eliminate astigmatism in the eyes, restore clear vision and reduce dependence on glasses.

Currently, astigmatism surgery methods all have a high success rate (up to 98%), quick surgery time of only 15 minutes, no pain, no bleeding, no stitches, helping patients to be discharged on the same day and restore vision quickly.
Patients should note that astigmatism cannot be cured on its own or completely treated with eye exercises, oriental medicine or acupressure. When there are signs of astigmatism, patients should go to reputable ophthalmology facilities for examination and advice on appropriate treatment methods. Although astigmatism is not a dangerous disease, patients still need to be monitored regularly to protect their vision.