How can children with minor astigmatism recover?

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Mild astigmatism in children refers to astigmatism below 150 degrees, which can impact vision. Currently, once the degree of astigmatism is established, there are no effective non-surgical treatments available to reduce it. Since children cannot immediately undergo surgery to correct astigmatism, the alternative is to wear frame glasses or rigid corneal contact lenses to correct their vision and enhance their eyesight. In subsequent life, it's important to develop good eye habits, avoid squinting when looking at things, not use the eyes at close range for extended periods, and try to prevent the degree of astigmatism from increasing. After reaching adulthood, astigmatism can be corrected through laser surgery.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang
Ophthalmology
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Astigmatism refers to a type of refractive error in which the eye does not focus light evenly onto the retina, often due to an irregular shape of the cornea or lens.

Astigmatism is a type of refractive error. Because our eyes are not a perfect sphere, they are more like an egg shape, with different meridians having different refractive powers. Thus, after imaging, the axial images may form in front of or behind the retina, rather than forming a focal point on the retina. Normally, astigmatism of some small degrees and with good axial alignment may not significantly affect vision. However, high degrees of astigmatism, especially irregular astigmatism, will definitely impact visual quality and require the prescription of special lenses to correct the astigmatism.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Why is astigmatism more serious than nearsightedness?

Astigmatism and myopia are both common eye diseases and are two different types of refractive errors. Under the same degree of refractive error, astigmatism can cause more damage to visual function than myopia. This is because patients with astigmatism usually experience abnormal development of the cornea, leading to different refractive powers in different directions. As a result, when light passes through the cornea and enters the eye, it cannot converge to form a single focus, but instead forms a line intersection, which greatly affects the quality of vision. On the other hand, myopia is caused by an overly long eye axis or excessive corneal refractive power. When light passes through the cornea and enters the eye, although it cannot focus accurately on the retina, it can still form a focus. Therefore, the impact on vision is less severe than that of astigmatism.

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Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
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What foods should be eaten for astigmatism?

For astigmatism, it is important in daily life to consume a diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and carotenes, such as meat, eggs, dairy, various fresh fruits and vegetables, and carrots. It is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods. If astigmatism occurs, it is important to visit a hospital for an optometric examination promptly. If there is significant astigmatism, it should be corrected with glasses based on a medical optometric examination, as uncorrected astigmatism can lead to severe eye strain over time.

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Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
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How to protect eyes with astigmatism

Some patients have congenital astigmatism, while most of the patients have acquired astigmatism. The occurrence of astigmatism is mostly due to improper sitting posture. It is caused by looking at objects from an inclined angle rather than directly from the eyes' proper axis. Especially lying down while reading or using smartphones can easily lead to an increase in astigmatism. If astigmatism is not corrected, it can easily worsen eye fatigue, thereby inducing a further increase in the degree of vision problems. In daily life, it is important to correct poor sitting postures and avoid situations such as lying down while reading or using smartphones. Engage more in outdoor activities, and limit reading sessions to no more than half an hour at a time. Consuming more vitamins A, D, C, E, and lutein in the diet can also help in preventing astigmatism.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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Can astigmatism wear orthokeratology lenses?

Astigmatism below 300 degrees generally can be corrected with orthokeratology (OK) lenses. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error where the eye has different refractive powers in different meridians, causing parallel light rays passing through the eye's refractive system to refract improperly and form two focal lines instead of a single focal point on the retina, resulting in a blurred image. Astigmatism can be categorized into regular astigmatism and irregular astigmatism. Regular astigmatism can be corrected using cylindrical lenses or glasses, while irregular astigmatism may require correction with corneal contact lenses, OK lenses, or surgical correction. Common symptoms of astigmatism include blurred vision, reduced visual acuity, and easy eye fatigue, and sometimes may also present with symptoms such as head tilting and headaches. Therefore, it is advisable to seek consultation in the ophthalmology refractive department if astigmatism symptoms appear.