Astigmatism Lights: What They Are and How To Manage
December 3, 2024 ⢠7:25 PM
Astigmatism is a common vision problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Itâs caused by issues with the curvature of the cornea, the lens of the eye.
One of the most significant issues caused by astigmatism is the distortion of bright lights. Eye doctors often refer to this phenomenon as âastigmatism lights,â and itâs characterized by optical distortions like haloes while looking at common light sources, such as traffic lights or street lamps.
If you have astigmatism and struggle with this common symptom, weâre here to help. Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about astigmatism lights and how to deal with their impact on your life.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is an eye condition caused by changes to the shape of the cornea in your eye. This condition causes refractive errors, which can distort and blur your vision, making it harder to see close-up and far away.
Folks with astigmatism are often diagnosed during a routine eye exam. Symptoms like distorted vision and poor night vision make the condition easy for an optometrist or ophthalmologist to spot. Thankfully, there are treatment options for astigmatism, which weâll cover in detail later on.
Does Astigmatism Affect Both of Your Eyes?
Astigmatism can affect one or both of your eyes, depending on how your corneas change over time.
At first, you might only notice symptoms in one eye, followed by degraded vision in the other. The condition can develop alongside nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia), sometimes affecting one eye more than the other.
What Are Astigmatism Lights?
Astigmatism lights are visual distortions that change how someone with the condition perceives light sources.
This symptom of astigmatism can manifest in a number of ways:
Haloes
Haloes are rings of light around a bright light source like a streetlight or neon sign. Theyâre one of the most common astigmatism symptoms and can vary from mild to severe in their impact on your vision.
Glare
Glare is another form of astigmatism light that makes daily activities like night driving difficult. This symptom makes lights look brighter than they really are, sometimes hurting your eyes and causing tearing.
Starbursts
Starbursts are radiating lines around sources of light, which can make it hard to read words on illuminated signs.
Blurry Vision
Astigmatism lights can also cause blurry vision after looking at a bright light source. This effect can linger for several seconds after you look away.
What Causes Astigmatism Lights?
If you have astigmatism, your corneal curvature changes how light enters your eye. This change can cause refraction errors, which make light rays look unusually intense.
Refraction errors can cause light to refract in multiple directions, especially in low-light conditions, such as driving at night. Blinking or flashing lights, as well as a lack of everyday eye care, can also cause visual distortions for people with astigmatism.
One of the most common causes of astigmatism lights is letting your symptoms go untreated. Any eye health condition, whether mild or severe, deserves attention from an eye care professional. When you donât get the vision correction you need, symptoms like astigmatism lights can worsen over time.
How Is Astigmatism Diagnosed?
Youâll need to visit your eye doctor to get diagnosed with astigmatism. Itâs a good idea to schedule an optometrist appointment if you notice any visual distortions that might be signs of a condition like astigmatism âeven if theyâre mild.
Once you have an appointment, your eye doctor will run some tests to see whether your corneas have an irregular shape. This process usually starts with a simple visual acuity test, which determines the level of blurred vision you experience while looking at letters that are far away.
In addition, your eye doctor will perform a refractive test, which lets them know what prescription strength you need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. After that, you may undergo a keratometry test, which measures the curvature of your cornea to check for signs of eye disease.
Other tests like a slit-lamp exam or retinoscopy can give your eye doctor more insight into the level of treatment you need. Sometimes, prescription eyeglasses might be all it takes to get you back to normal vision.
However, if you struggle with astigmatism to the point that it seriously affects your day-to-day life, your eye doctor might recommend a different treatment plan.
How To Manage Astigmatism
If you struggle with astigmatism symptoms, there are a number of steps that you can take to improve your situation and feel more comfortable and confident. Here are some of the most effective management options:
Glasses or Contacts
Prescription eyewear is sometimes all you need to better manage astigmatism lights.
Glasses can be made with lenses that correct the cylindrical aspect of astigmatism, as their shape compensates for refractive issues caused by the shape of the cornea. These glasses sometimes include features like anti-reflective coatings, which makes it easier to deal with the eye strain or blurred vision caused by driving at night with astigmatism.
Toric contact lenses, made especially for astigmatic corneas, can also help with your symptoms. However, some people find them uncomfortable, and they can be much more high-maintenance than glasses.
Finally, specialized lenses designed for night driving can help you deal with the glare from oncoming headlights and stoplights. Be careful with these lenses, though â some night driving glasses can actually make it harder for you to see clearly by distorting colors.
Eye Surgery
In more severe cases, eye doctors may recommend LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) surgery to correct refractive issues caused by astigmatism.
If youâre looking for a long-term solution to correct astigmatism, these surgeries might be an option. However, theyâre expensive, and not everyone is eligible. Make sure you have a detailed, in-depth conversation with an ophthalmologist and consider alternative options before receiving corrective surgery.
Avoid Night Driving
If the main effects of your astigmatism occur at night, avoid night driving as much as possible. Letting someone else drive after sunset can help you avoid eye strain and other symptoms.
Use Eye Drops
Astigmatism lights can cause dry eyes, which can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Keeping eye drops handy when in a low-light environment can provide quick relief and help you stay comfortable.
Additionally, hydration goes a long way toward avoiding dry eyes. Drink plenty of water to protect your eyes from dryness and irritation. This helpful habit wonât fix dry eyes, but it can make things easier.
Get Regular Eye Exams
If you have astigmatism, you may need to get your eyes checked out by an optometrist more often than the average person, but only if your astigmatism is caused by another eye condition. Monitoring the health of your eyes is just as important as getting your prescription updated. The sooner your eyeglasses prescription is updated to compensate for changes to your vision, the better.
When youâre at the eye doctor, let your care provider know if your vision has changed since your last visit. This information will provide insight into how they might need to adjust your treatment plan to help protect your vision.
Find Glasses for Astigmatism at Pair
The right pair of glasses can help you stay comfortable and avoid symptoms like dry eyes, blurry vision, and strain. At Pair, we make it easy to find exactly what youâre looking for.
Our Base Frames are made from comfortable materials that are easy for everyone to wear. In addition, you can import your prescription when you place your order, making it a breeze to get the lenses you need.
The real star of the show, however, is our magnetic Top Frames. These unique accessories attach seamlessly to your Base Frames, instantly upgrading your glasses and making them uniquely yours.
If youâre shopping for glasses for astigmatism, we recommend checking out our lineup. Combine a Base Frame that you love with your favorite Top Frames, and youâll achieve a look that meets your needs and fits just right.
Sources:
What Is Astigmatism? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment | American Academy of Ophthalmology
Astigmatism: Symptoms, Tests & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic