Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a condition in which the shape of the cornea – the clear window at the front of the eye – is unequal in different directions. A useful analogy is to compare the shape of a soccer ball with a rugby or AFL ball. A soccer ball is spherical in shape with equal curvatures in all meridians. The surface of a rugby or AFL ball on the other hand, has different curvatures in the horizontal and vertical meridians i.e. the horizontal meridian is flatter, whilst the vertical meridian is steeper. The shape of a normal cornea typically resembles the shape of a soccer ball whereas an astigmatic cornea can be likened to the shape of a rugby or AFL ball. Symptoms of astigmatism include headaches, fatigue, eyestrain, as well as distorted or blurred vision.