Astigmatism is a common vision defect. It is caused by a change in the lens or curvature of the cornea. With astigmatism, glasses are the most effective and easiest way to correct, because when complaints appear, it becomes necessary to improve vision.
The main cause of eye astigmatism is an incorrect configuration of the optical system. It appears with an uneven curvature of the cornea or an irregular shape of the lens. The disease of astigmatism can occur with congenital uneven pressure of the eyelids, bones of the orbit and oculomotor muscles.
If eye astigmatism has an acquired form, then the following factors could provoke it:
- ophthalmic surgery
- different types of injuries with sharp or piercing objects, resulting in corneal scarring or subluxation of the lens;
- clouding of the cornea due to inflammation;
- keratoconus is a pathologycornea, which causes thinning of the cornea;
- injuries to the structure of the dental system;
- pterygium - growth of the conjunctiva on the cornea.
When do I need glasses?
A disease such as astigmatism occurs due to deformation of the surface of the lens or cornea, which disrupts the focusing of light beams on the retina. That is why the contours of surrounding objects are blurred, they can split in two, pain and dryness in the eyes are felt with little stress on the organs of vision. Glasses can help with mixed astigmatism.
Patient complains like:
- blurred vision;
- rapid eye fatigue;
- decrease in visual acuity;
- reduced vision at dusk;
- decrease in performance;
- dizziness;
- headache.
Do I need glasses for astigmatism if such signs of the disease appear? With a rapid decrease in visual acuity, the presence of complaints and the progression of astigmatism, glasses are required.
How to choose the right one?
Only an ophthalmologist is able to choose the right glasses for astigmatism, who will conduct an examination and examine the instrumental visual functions of the patient. This is necessary to establish the type, causes and degree of manifestation of visual impairment. With astigmatism, the selection of glasses is a multi-stage process of examining the eye system.
Steps
The main stages of the selection of glasses for astigmatism:
- Verification byspecial tables of visual acuity of both eyes. Initially, it is carried out without correction, after the patient is put on a frame. In it, one eye is closed with a dense plate, and in front of the other eye, the doctor alternately inserts cylindrical lenses. As a result, glass is chosen that allows for the highest clarity of vision.
- Establishing the degree and type of refraction. In a dark room, using an autorefractometer, the oculist determines the degree and size of the curvature of the cornea, the distance between the pupils and their diameter.
- Biomicroscopy. Enables detailed examination of all structures inside the eye using a special microscope.
- Ultrasound of the eyeballs.
- Ophthalmoscopy, in which the picture of the fundus is analyzed.
- Computer keratometry. The curvature of the cornea is examined along several established meridians. The obtained information is recorded in diopters or millimeters.
This is needed for a prescription for glasses with astigmatism. This is required if the vision has an error of one diopter or more. The peculiarity of astigmatic lenses is that they must simultaneously correct vision horizontally and vertically. That is why they have an uneven curve, similar to a stretched sphere or oval.
Scoring feature
For adult patients, especially the elderly or acquiring such glasses for the first time, the selection of glasses for astigmatism has a significant feature. It is advisable for a person to use glasses with less strongglasses than required by the results of the examination. When the period of adaptation of the lenses ends, they are changed, increasing the intensity of the correction. Only after that it is advisable to wear glasses that optimize astigmatism. This adaptation period avoids the increase in visual discomfort, dizziness and headaches that can occur when using unusual glasses.
For farsightedness and nearsightedness
If the patient has pronounced degrees of farsightedness and myopia, which are combined with astigmatism, it is more difficult to find glasses, and it may take time to get used to them. The ophthalmologist tells the patient about this in advance.
If the astigmatism is simple, when light refraction along one meridian is broken, cylindrical lenses are used. They are used for farsightedness or nearsightedness. With a complex variant of the disease, toric glasses are used, which correct the refraction of light along two meridians at once. They are a combination of spherical and cylindrical lenses. If the patient often has to work at the computer, doctors advise buying glasses with anti-reflective coating for astigmatism to protect the eyes from harmful radiation.
Selection of frames
For astigmatic glasses, it is very important to choose the right frame. Their glasses have a number of features, and therefore the selection of frames for adult patients is not limited to fashion and their aesthetic preferences. It is undesirable to use rimless and semi-rimless models, as they contribute todistortion of the axes of refraction.
Parameters
You need to wear frames that meet the following parameters:
- pupil position and optical lens center must match;
- the arms do not put pressure on the temples;
- the lower edge of the frame cannot be located below the horizontal line that runs along the upper borders of the nostrils;
- It is forbidden to purchase a massive frame, so as not to distort peripheral vision.
Discomfort of the organs of vision may appear as a result of gradual deformation of the frame. At the same time, it is necessary to go back to the optics salon in which the purchase was made. Specialists will restore the frame and normalize the patient's vision. It is best to choose frames that are neutral in color and design so that you do not have to match your wardrobe later.
Why do I need glasses for astigmatism? This is interesting to many.
Pros and cons of glasses for astigmatism
Correction of pathology glasses with the right choice of frames and lenses has undeniable advantages:
- glasses safety and availability;
- glasses not only have a good effect on the function of vision, but also have a therapeutic effect;
- increased visual acuity at far and near distances;
- no bifurcation of objects, as well as distortion of their boundaries;
- no eye strain when using normal glasses.
However, there are disadvantages of using. Correction of the disease with spectacle lenses involves some adaptationpatient. Usually, this requires about a week to put on glasses immediately after sleep. If vagueness persists after this period, you should re-contact your doctor. It may be necessary to correct the selected shape of the frame or glasses.
Do I need to wear glasses all the time with astigmatism? Doctors advise taking breaks at first. Older people have a harder time adjusting to new glasses than younger people. They are more likely to experience discomfort, dizziness, headaches, and may even increase blood pressure.
If you use astigmatic glasses constantly, then even at a young age and with good he alth, discomfort and headaches can occur during prolonged exertion. It is especially difficult for patients with severe forms of the disease, combined with farsightedness, to get used to the correction. That is why the question of the constant wearing of glasses is decided individually in each case.
Lenses or glasses for astigmatism: which is better?
With the correct selection of glasses and compliance with all medical recommendations, the patient quickly adapts to them. However, their use is associated with a number of inconveniences: the likelihood of loss or breakage, fogging of lenses when the temperature changes, a change in the patient's appearance, and limitations in lateral vision. Of course, everyone chooses for himself whether to wear glasses for astigmatism or lenses.
Using lenses has several benefits:
- higher visual acuity as lenses are placed on the cornea (when glasses are worn between the cornea andlenses have a gap);
- the size of the image does not change on the retina, so correction can be carried out even with a large difference between the eyes;
- if the patient has astigmatism up to one and a half diopters, correction can be achieved with simple spherical lenses due to the tear, which further levels the corneal surface.
When choosing contact lenses, optometrists often recommend soft toric lenses. Correction of a distorted meridian with such lenses is combined with the correction of farsightedness or myopia. A special locking mechanism allows you to keep the product in a stable state, regardless of eye movements. Therefore, the impact is only on the necessary meridian. A number of soft lenses are approved for use from one day to a month.
Disadvantages: high cost, difficult to fit, need to change from time to time, forbidden to use in infectious acute diseases, the possibility of injury to the eye if used carelessly, it takes time to learn how to use the lenses.
We found out if glasses are necessary for astigmatism.
Ophthalmologist advice
Glasses must be fitted correctly to ensure easy and optimal correction of the patient's visual distortion. However, this takes time and some effort. With the ineffectiveness of conservative correction, it is desirable to do laser surgery. The sooner the patient's astigmatism is corrected, the less complications will develop, including a sharp deterioration in vision and the appearance of strabismus. The key to he alth is an early correction with the help of glasses. It is necessary to regularly visit an ophthalmologist, where the state of vision will be monitored.
