Astigmatism is a common visual condition that affects millions of people worldwide, typically first diagnosed through an eye exam. Characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, it can lead to blurred or distorted vision, headaches, and eye strain. However, a lesser-known symptom is that astigmatism can affect your depth perception, making it difficult to judge how far away an object is.
Since poor depth perception can make just about everything more difficult, from driving to playing sports, correcting astigmatism with glasses or specialty contact lenses is essential.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye is irregularly shaped. Instead of being round like a soccer ball, it’s more oval like a football. In a regular eye, light rays are able to pass through the clear cornea at the front of the eye, then the lens, and focus with pinpoint accuracy onto the retina at the back. However, this irregularity from astigmatism causes light to refract unevenly, leading to blurred or distorted vision.
While corneal astigmatism is common, either because the eye is wider than it is tall or vice versa, it’s possible for an irregularly shaped lens to be to blame. Whatever the case, astigmatism can manifest in various ways, affecting vision clarity based on its severity. Symptoms often include:
- Blurred or distorted vision at all distances
- Eye strain or discomfort
- Headaches
- Constant squinting
The degree of astigmatism can vary widely from person to person, affecting one or both eyes. Some factors that can play a role in astigmatism include:
- Genetics
- Eye disease
- Eye injury
- Eye surgery
- Keratoconus
Astigmatism can even occur alongside other vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness.
How Do Our Eyes See Depth?
Depth perception is the ability to judge the distance and spatial relationship between objects, or, rather, it’s our ability to see the world in 3D. It’s essential for everyday tasks and can even affect something as simple as pouring a glass of water.
Depth perception relies on a complex interaction between the eyes and the brain. Each eye captures a slightly different image, and the brain merges these images to create a single, three-dimensional view. This process involves:
- Binocular Vision: Using both eyes to create a single image.
- Monocular Cues: Depth cues that are available even with one eye closed, such as size and texture gradients. This skill is typically learned over time if someone has to rely on one eye.
When either eye is compromised, as in the case of astigmatism, it can affect the brain’s ability to merge these images, leading to impaired depth perception.
Consider driving, an activity where depth perception is crucial. A person with astigmatism might find it difficult to judge distances between cars, affecting their ability to change lanes safely. Similarly, in sports like basketball, impaired depth perception can make gauging the distance to the hoop challenging, affecting performance.
Correcting Depth Perception Problems from Astigmatism
The good news is that optometrists have various corrective measures to enhance depth perception in individuals with astigmatism! From non-invasive techniques to widely used surgical procedures, there are numerous options available for those seeking better visual clarity. Each method has its own set of benefits, but we can help you find a solution tailored for your needs.
Eyeglasses
Glasses remain a classic and highly effective treatment for astigmatism. Glasses can significantly improve both vision clarity and depth perception by adjusting how light enters the eye. Easy to use and non-invasive, glasses are often the first line of treatment that eye care professionals recommend to manage astigmatism.
Plus, with a range of stylish options, your glasses can be your fashion accessory.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses for astigmatism are specially designed to maintain their position on the eye, effectively having a “top and bottom.” Toric lenses, for example, have different powers depending on their orientation, so they’re weighted on the bottom so that they don’t turn while on your eye.
Rigid gas-permeable contacts are another popular recommendation for some astigmatism types. They are better at retaining their shape due to their relatively more “rigid” materials.
Contacts aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Different lens types serve different needs, which is why it’s essential to get a contact lens fitting first.
Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery, particularly procedures like LASIK, PRK, and LASEK, offers a permanent solution for correcting astigmatism. These surgeries involve using a precise laser to reshape the cornea, enabling it to focus light more accurately onto the retina. This can result in enhanced vision clarity and improved depth perception, potentially eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses altogether.
Make Your Vision Top Priority
Astigmatism affects more than just your ability to see clearly—it can also impact your depth perception. The good news is that there are several ways to manage these effects. You can use prescription glasses, contact lenses, or even consider refractive surgery to correct the cornea’s shape.
If you’re struggling with astigmatism and its impact on your depth perception, don’t wait! Book an appointment with Ladera Ranch Optometry to explore tailored solutions that work for you.
