Irregular astigmatism is a condition where the surface of the cornea is damaged, causing distorted vision. It is often more difficult to treat than regular astigmatism, but specialized contact lenses and surgery can provide relief. The causes can be genetic or due to injury or infection. Rigid gas permeable lenses and laser surgery may help improve vision.
Irregular astigmatism is a type of eye disorder in which the surface of the cornea is damaged by peaks, ridges, valleys, and other abnormal shapes. When the cornea is not uniformly smooth, light cannot be collected and focused properly on the lens. A person with mild irregular astigmatism may have slightly blurry or distorted vision, while a severe case may cause multiple images to appear in each eye that are disorienting and sometimes debilitating. The condition is generally more difficult to treat than other types of astigmatism, but specialized contact lenses and advances in surgical techniques allow many patients to enjoy at least some relief from their symptoms.
Most people who have astigmatism suffer from the regular variety. In regular astigmatism, the cornea is more or less smooth, but has an abnormal curvature. Light enters the lens at a steeper or shallower angle than normal, leading to slight distortions. If you have irregular astigmatism, there may or may not be an angle problem. Instead, vision disturbances result from irregularities in certain spots on the surface of the cornea. Bumps and dips refract light in unusual and sometimes unpredictable ways.
The underlying causes of this type of astigmatism aren’t always easy to determine, and many possible problems can lead to the disorder. Some people have irregular astigmatism from birth due to genetic factors. Others develop problems later in life from eye injuries or serious infections. In some cases, even surgery to correct regular astigmatism or another eye disorder can lead to accidental damage to the surface of the cornea.
A person who has irregular astigmatism typically has difficulty focusing on both near and far objects. The condition is often worse in one eye than the other, and keeping one eye closed can temporarily help the person see better. If the cornea is severely malformed, light can be refracted so that the same image appears multiple times in different places on the lens, causing double or triple vision in a single eye. Vision problems can in turn lead to symptoms such as headaches, nausea and balance problems.
While regular astigmatism can usually be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgical reshaping, irregular astigmatism is typically less responsive. A type of contact called a rigid gas permeable lens may be helpful in improving a mild problem. The lens, which is curved evenly, rests on top of the cornea and reduces the amount of bumps and dents that affect incoming light. Even delicate laser surgery may be performed to attempt to smooth the surface. The results of surgery aren’t always perfect, but the procedure helps most people see more clearly.
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