What will happen if children's astigmatism is not treated?

Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
Updated on December 03, 2024
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If children with astigmatism do not receive treatment, the specific consequences will depend on the severity of the astigmatism. If a child has only mild astigmatism and does not exhibit any other clinical symptoms, treatment might not be necessary, and it will not impact the child's vision. However, if the astigmatism is severe, it is necessary to wear corrective lenses for astigmatism; otherwise, it may lead to a decrease in both far and near vision. This is especially true for compound and mixed astigmatism, which can cause a significant decline in a child's vision, and often results in visual fatigue. Children may exhibit symptoms such as eye pain, orbital pain, monocular diplopia, or tearing. Additionally, there may also be occurrences of compensatory head tilting and torticollis.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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Can astigmatism and strabismus be corrected?

Astigmatism and strabismus can sometimes be corrected, depending on their severity. Astigmatism refers to the condition where parallel light rays entering the eye cannot focus on a single point on the retina after being refracted by the eye's optical system, instead forming two focal lines, ultimately failing to produce a clear image on the retina. Astigmatism can be categorized into regular and irregular types. Regular astigmatism can be corrected with cylindrical lenses in eyeglasses; while irregular astigmatism generally requires correction with contact lenses. Additionally, after reaching 18 years of age, astigmatism can also be corrected through refractive surgery. Generally, mild astigmatism does not impact vision and does not require special treatment; however, moderate to severe astigmatism, if uncorrected, might lead to amblyopia and other vision impairments. Strabismus means that when one eye is focusing, the visual axis of the other eye deviates from being parallel, presenting an abnormal eye position. It is generally recommended to start treatment immediately after diagnosing strabismus. If there is significant refractive error, glasses should be prescribed first. If glasses cannot correct the condition, surgery might be necessary.

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Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
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Will astigmatism cause the pupils to enlarge?

Astigmatism of the eye is a type of refractive error caused by an uneven curvature of the cornea's surface, resulting in different refractive powers along different axes. Once astigmatism occurs, particularly with a high degree of astigmatism, there can be a noticeable decrease in vision, distortion in sight, or in severe cases, significant eye fatigue. However, it generally does not lead to pupil dilation. Pupil dilation is caused by the paralysis of the ciliary muscle due to internal and external factors, resulting in enlarged pupils. Therefore, if symptoms of astigmatism appear, it is advisable to visit a hospital promptly for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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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 Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Do you need to wear glasses long-term if you have more than 200 degrees of astigmatism?

Patients with astigmatism of more than 200 degrees generally need to wear glasses long-term. Astigmatism of over 200 degrees is considered moderate and can significantly affect vision. If glasses are not worn to correct this, the patient's unaided vision is usually poor, causing blurriness and inconvenience in work and daily life. Additionally, prolonged unclear vision can easily lead to eye strain, and may even cause symptoms such as eye soreness, dizziness, and headaches. Astigmatism can be diagnosed through an optometric examination, which will determine the specific degree of astigmatism and its axis. Glasses can then be prescribed to correct it. If the patient is an adult who does not wish to wear glasses, laser surgery or the implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens can also be considered as treatment options.

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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.