Put simply, astigmatism refers to the shape of a person’s eye. It may result from a cornea (the clear “window” on the front of the eye) that is not perfectly spherical but somewhat warped, like a football rather than a basketball. Most people have a small amount of astigmatism. It usually does not blur the vision but distorts it, which can lead to eyestrain or fatigue over time. Astigmatism is easily corrected with glasses. Most people with astigmatism can successfully wear contact lenses. Soft contact lenses that correct astigmatism are called TORIC lenses. Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses are also recommended for certain types of astigmatism.
