Astigmatism in children is caused by what?

Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
Updated on October 26, 2024
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The majority of astigmatism in children is caused by congenital factors, that is, genetic factors. If one or both parents of the child have astigmatism, the probability of the child having astigmatism is higher than that of other children.

There are also a few cases where a child's astigmatism is caused by acquired factors, such as surgery, trauma, or illness, all of which may cause changes in the curvature of the cornea and lens. Additionally, a lack of outdoor activities and poor eye habits might also promote the development of astigmatism.

It is recommended that once a child is diagnosed with astigmatism, they should go to a reputable hospital for examination and then get appropriate treatment to improve the condition, otherwise, it could impact their vision.

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Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
47sec home-news-image

Astigmatism in children is caused by what?

The majority of astigmatism in children is caused by congenital factors, that is, genetic factors. If one or both parents of the child have astigmatism, the probability of the child having astigmatism is higher than that of other children. There are also a few cases where a child's astigmatism is caused by acquired factors, such as surgery, trauma, or illness, all of which may cause changes in the curvature of the cornea and lens. Additionally, a lack of outdoor activities and poor eye habits might also promote the development of astigmatism. It is recommended that once a child is diagnosed with astigmatism, they should go to a reputable hospital for examination and then get appropriate treatment to improve the condition, otherwise, it could impact their vision.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
1min 19sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
53sec home-news-image

Can pseudomyopia cause astigmatism?

Pseudomyopia generally does not involve astigmatism. Pseudomyopia is caused by ciliary muscle spasm, while astigmatism is due to changes in the curvature of the cornea, or changes in the eyeball itself; these two are not the same. Pseudomyopia can be completely cured with proactive treatment, adequate rest, reducing close-up activities, avoiding eye fatigue, and using eye drops that alleviate ciliary muscle paralysis, such as low-concentration atropine eye drops and digoxin eye drops. If not treated actively, prolonged pseudomyopia can turn into true myopia. True myopia involves elongation of the eye axis, leading to blurred distance vision but clear near vision. Therefore, when this occurs, a proper dilated refraction test should be conducted. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
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Can farsightedness and astigmatism be corrected with glasses?

Hyperopia is a condition where parallel rays of light entering the eye focus behind the retina, preventing external objects from forming a clear image on the retina. This condition is referred to as hyperopia. Astigmatism is due to the cornea of the eye having a certain curvature, with light bending unevenly across the cornea due to its irregular curvature, causing different refractive indices on each meridian of the cornea. This results in the light rays not focusing on the same focal point, thereby preventing the rays from accurately focusing on the retina to form a clear image. This condition is known as astigmatism. Both hyperopia and astigmatism are types of refractive errors, and wearing glasses can correct them. It is also necessary to wear glasses promptly for correction.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can playing with a cell phone every day during pregnancy cause astigmatism?

It is not recommended to use cellphones every day during pregnancy. Although using mobile phones does not cause astigmatism, it can still harm the eyes of pregnant women. Astigmatism is caused by congenital changes in the corneal shape and the intrinsic refractive state of the lens. Various acquired factors can also affect the outcome of astigmatism, such as unhealthy visual habits in daily life and changes in refractive status, which can lead to acquired astigmatism. Engaging in prolonged mobile phone use during pregnancy might lead to myopia, but it will not cause astigmatism. Long-term accumulation of myopia can lead to symptoms like dizziness and fatigue.