If you have astigmatism, you should get your eyes checked on a regular basis by an eye care professional. Astigmatism is a common vision condition that causes blurred vision. It occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular curvature, preventing light from properly focusing on the retina. This results in distorted and blurry vision at all distances.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a refractive error that causes blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. With astigmatism, light rays focus at more than one point on the retina rather than one single point. This results in blurred or distorted vision at all distances.
There are two main types of astigmatism:
- Corneal astigmatism – occurs when the front surface of the cornea has an irregular curvature
- Lenticular astigmatism – occurs when the lens inside the eye has an irregular curvature
Astigmatism can be present from birth, develop over time, or occur due to injury or surgery. Some common symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Blurry or distorted vision at all distances
- Squinting or eye strain
- Headaches
- Difficulty seeing at night
Astigmatism often occurs along with nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). It may also occur together with presbyopia, which is age-related loss of near focus ability.
Why regular eye exams are important with astigmatism
Getting your eyes examined regularly is important if you have astigmatism for several reasons:
- Vision changes over time – Like other refractive errors, the degree of astigmatism may gradually change over time. Regular exams allow your eye doctor to detect these changes and update your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription accordingly.
- Monitor eye health – Eye exams allow early detection of additional eye problems that are more common with astigmatism. These include amblyopia (lazy eye), keratoconus, and cataracts.
- Maximize vision – Glasses or contacts can effectively correct astigmatism. But to optimize vision and comfort, the prescription must be accurate. Regular exams ensure your correction is keeping pace with changes.
- Reduce eye strain – Uncorrected or under-corrected astigmatism can lead to significant eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Updated prescriptions help optimize vision comfort.
Without regular eye exams, you may not realize your vision is being affected by gradual astigmatism progression. An outdated prescription can make symptoms like eye strain worse over time.
How often should you get your eyes checked with astigmatism?
Most eye doctors recommend getting a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years if you have astigmatism. Some recommendations include:
- Children should be examined annually or as recommended by their eye doctor.
- Teens and younger adults may only need exams every 2 years unless they notice vision changes.
- Adults over age 40 should have annual eye exams.
- Seniors over age 65 should have eye exams every 1-2 years, or more frequently if recommended.
More frequent exams may be needed if you experience any vision changes, eye discomfort, headaches, squinting, or other astigmatism symptoms between exams. Inform your eye doctor of any relevant symptoms at your next visit.
If you wear contact lenses to correct astigmatism, exams are also critical to check for any corneal changes and ensure proper lens fit over time. Your eye doctor will advise on the recommended exam frequency for contact lens wearers.
What to expect during an eye exam with astigmatism
A comprehensive eye exam for astigmatism will include the following components:
- Case history – Your eye doctor will discuss your medical history, eye health, any vision issues, and astigmatism symptoms.
- Visual acuity – They will check your unaided distance and near visual acuity using an eye chart.
- Refraction – Lenses will be used to determine your refractive error and best vision correction for astigmatism.
- Eye health exam – Using specialized instruments, your doctor will examine the eyes and related structures to check for any issues.
- Eye pressure test – This quick and painless puff of air checks eye pressure for signs of glaucoma.
- Dilation – Drops may be used to widen the pupils for a better view inside the eye, including the retina and optic nerve.
Based on the exam results, your eye doctor will discuss treatment options like new eyeglasses or contacts. They may also recommend specialty lenses or treatments if astigmatism is severe. Be sure to discuss any eye discomfort, headaches, or vision concerns you are experiencing.
Factors that may require more frequent eye exams
While every 1-2 years is the general recommendation, some circumstances may call for more frequent eye exams if you have astigmatism. Your eye doctor may recommend annual or semi-annual exams if you have:
- High degree of astigmatism
- Rapidly changing astigmatism
- Symptoms like squinting, eye strain, or headaches
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Keratoconus
- Dry eyes or blepharitis
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal conditions
- Previous eye surgery or injury
- Family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration
Age is another factor, with more frequent exams often needed for children whose vision is still developing and seniors who are more prone to certain eye diseases. Discuss your specific circumstances with your eye doctor.
Are eye exams covered by insurance with astigmatism?
Routine eye exams are often fully or partially covered by vision insurance plans. With medical insurance, eye exams are typically covered if you have a medical eye condition like astigmatism or when checking for related health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure.
To determine your exam coverage with astigmatism:
- Check details of your vision and medical insurance plans
- Ask if astigmatism is covered as a medical diagnosis rather than standard vision exam
- Inquire about covered exam frequency for astigmatism monitoring
- Ask about any out-of-pocket costs like copays or deductibles
If uninsured, ask your eye doctor’s office about any discounts or payment plans they may offer. Paying out of pocket for regular astigmatism exams is critical for preserving vision health and comfort.
Finding an eye doctor to monitor astigmatism
It’s important to have a skilled eye care provider regularly examine your eyes and monitor your astigmatism. Ophthalmologists and optometrists can both perform eye exams and prescribe corrective lenses for astigmatism. Consider the following when choosing your eye doctor:
- Ask your primary care doctor for referrals
- Look for eye doctors covered by your medical and vision insurance
- Search online for eye doctors conveniently located near you
- Check qualifications, experience, and patient reviews
- Confirm they have the specialized instruments to examine astigmatism
Developing an ongoing relationship with the same eye care professional is ideal for monitoring any changes to your astigmatism and eye health over time. They will become familiar with your eyes and be able to detect subtle changes.
Conclusion
Astigmatism is a common vision condition that can gradually change over time. Having your eyes thoroughly checked by an eye doctor every 1-2 years helps ensure astigmatism is accurately diagnosed and monitored. They can detect subtle vision changes, update your prescription accordingly, and check for any additional eye health issues.
More frequent exams may be recommended based on your specific circumstances and symptoms. Regular eye exams are essential for optimizing your vision, comfort, and eye health if you have astigmatism.