Most people’s eyes are round like a football and light focusses on one area of the retina (the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye). If you have astigmatism your eye is shaped a bit like a rugby ball. This means that the light focusses on more than one area of the retina so your vision is distorted (you may find it difficult to tell ‘N’ from ‘H’, for instance) or blurry.

Who is affected by Astigmatism?

Like short sight or long sight, astigmatism is caused by the shape and size of your eye. It is very common and is easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

What are the symptoms of astigmatism?

Astigmatism can cause blurred vision, headaches and eyestrain (you may notice this after concentrating for a long time – on a computer, for example). Astigmatism normally occurs alongside short sight or long sight