Mcdonald Optical
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Astigmatism Eye Exams from Top Iowa Optometrists
Doctor’s Note: Astigmatism is most often treated with prescription eyewear or contact lenses—both of which can be found in McDonald Optical’s trusted eyeglasses store.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a condition in which there is an imperfect curvature of the cornea (surface of the eye) or lens (interior of the eye).
In an ideal situation, both the cornea and lens are curved, which allows the light entering the eye to focus evenly or refract on the retina, where our brains translate the images we see.
However, astigmatism has a mismatched or egg-shaped curve that prevents light from focusing on the retina. This refractive error causes blurred vision no matter the distance and occurs in both nearsighted (myopia) and farsighted (hyperopia) patients.

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Causes Of Astigmatism
It is a myth that astigmatism is worsened (or caused) by screen use or poor lighting. In fact, most patients who suffer from this common eye imperfection are born with astigmatism.
An eye injury can also cause astigmatism. Learn more about eye injury prevention on our blog post about Workplace Eye Safety Month.
Astigmatism Treatments
- Blurred vision.
- Headaches.
- Eyestrain or squinting.
- Difficulty seeing at night.
In some cases, however, it can be treated with surgery. Corrective surgery for astigmatism changes the shape of the cornea, making it possible for light to refract correctly onto the retina.
Diagnosis and Treatment from Our Eye Doctors in Iowa City
Astigmatism is a treatable condition that affects around a third of the U.S. population.
It’s recommended you see an eye doctor when symptoms of astigmatism become problematic or interfere with day-to-day life.
Children and astigmatism
Children need to have eye screenings early and often, as they may not realize they have blurry vision if they have always had astigmatism. By ensuring children have regular eye exams, conditions like astigmatism can be caught early, monitored, and treated if needed.
It is recommended that children get a complete eye exam between the ages of 3 and 5 to monitor eye health and diagnose any vision problems such as astigmatism as early as possible.
Contact McDonald Optical at (319)-359-3307 or Book Online Here.
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