Effects of Astigmatism on Night Vision

Are you having trouble seeing at night?  If yes, you have Astigmatism. Yes, most people do not consider a problem with their night vision.

They treat it as a random occurrence, which is not a good thing to do. Astigmatism is, in fact, an eye condition that must be addressed as soon as possible. 

What is Astigmatism?   

A defect known as Astigmatism is caused by the presence of a cylindrical number in the refraction or focusing process.

Astigmatism is a “refractive error,” similar to Nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).

Astigmatism could be nearsighted or farsighted. It basically impacts how your eyes bend (refract) light, thus, referred to as refractive errors.  

If you have Astigmatism, your cornea (the clear front piece of your eyeball) isn’t spherical. Our eyes should have perfectly spherical eyeballs.

It provides a clear view because it allows light to enter and bend equally. As a result, light bends to one side more than the other if your cornea is more football-shaped. An object’s peripheral features are sharply defined.  As a result, distant objects take on a mushy, wavelike appearance. 

What are the causes of Astigmatism? 

1. Genetics: Most people are born with the condition. Other reasons for it include eye injuries and conditions like congenital amblyopic.  
2. Keratoconus: Some people get Astigmatism as a result of keratoconus, a condition that thins and changes the curvature of the cornea, the clear front section of the eye.  

There are many different types of Astigmatism, but the most common form is the shape of the cornea that looks like a bottle gourd.

Different light rays enter the eye and focus on different parts of the retina. As a result, some light rays focus in front of the retina and others focus behind it. As a result, both close-up and long-distance images appear fuzzy and twisted. 

Symptoms of Astigmatism

If you have Astigmatism, you’ll notice following symptoms:

1. Blurry vision
2. Eye fatigue
3. Difficulty seeing at night.  
4. Headache

How does Astigmatism affect your Vision? 

As said earlier, Astigmatism is a refractive error, due to which your eye doesn’t bend or refract light correctly.

Astigmatism is classified as corneal or lenticular. Corneal Astigmatism causes an oval rather than spherical cornea. With lenticular Astigmatism, the lens is distorted.  

The uneven shape of your cornea or lens stops light from reaching your retina. The retina turns light into signals that are transmitted to the brain for visual recognition. 

Astigmatism can be nearsighted or farsighted, and both are refractive errors. The most common sign of Astigmatism is blurred or distorted vision. Moreover, it also affects your night vision, which is why many people find it difficult to drive at night. 

How does Astigmatism affect night vision? 

Astigmatism can impede your night vision. If you’ve ever witnessed glare from approaching vehicles or haloes surrounding nearby lighting, it is Astigmatism.  

So, why does it happen?   

Due to Astigmatism, your pupil dilates (enlarges) at night and in low light circumstances, allowing more light into your eye. This increase glares and blurs lights. 

Many people have difficulty seeing at night. Other eye illnesses and conditions that affect night vision include: Myopia cataracts, glaucoma keratoconus, a significant corneal curvature.  

Effect on Night Driving

Driving at night might be difficult for people with Astigmatism, as it affects night vision. Notable night driving consequences include: 

• Lights and other objects may appear hazy or have halos surrounding them. 
• streaky lights increased glare from lights 
• squinting to see better 

So, if you notice any of these refractive issues on a regular basis, we recommend seeing a specialist and opting for Lasik Eye Surgery in Delhi.   

What’s the Solution?  

Well, it’s simple – the moment you start to notice all these symptoms, visit a reputable eye doctor. They will first test your vision to see how affected your eyes are with Astigmatism. They may also determine if you have another eye condition affecting your eyesight.  

After a thorough examination of your eyes, your doctor will prescribe the best treatment. For example, in the case of mild to moderate Astigmatism, they recommend glasses or corrective lenses. Some of the treatment options are as follows:  

Eyeglasses: These will contain lenses to correct light bending into your eye. Eyeglass lenses can also treat Nearsightedness or farsightedness.  

Lenses: Contact lenses can also improve vision by bending light into your eye. Choose from soft disposable, hard gas permeable, extended-wear, or bifocal contact lenses.  

Orthokeratology: This procedure involves wearing hard contact lenses while sleeping

to correct your cornea’s shape temporarily. After removing the lenses, your eye will revert to its original shape. 

Implanted Toric Lens: This surgical treatment replaces your eye’s deformed lens with a unique type of lens that corrects your eye’s shape.

Your doctor will advise you to wear astigmatic glasses or contact lenses when driving at night. If you have problems seeing lights and objects clearly at night, your prescription may need to be altered. 

Laser Eye Surgery: Laser eye surgery is yet another wonderful way to correct refractive errors, including Astigmatism.

Both spherical and cylindrical defects can be corrected with Laser in the same eye at the same time. The cornea is reshaped based on the existing corneal topography in this treatment.

With the help of a state-of-the-art computer, the Laser machine may be programmed to make precise adjustments to each axis of the vision. Choose a well-known clinic for your Laser Eye Surgery in Delhi. 

Aside from these, the treatments include SMILE Laser Eye Surgery, Contoura Vision Lasik Surgery, Bladeless Lasik and more. Your doctor will recommend the treatment based on the level of your Astigmatism. The Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Cost will also be clearly defined by your surgeon.

In summary 

Astigmatism can cause blurred vision, especially at night, which significantly impacts your ability to drive at night.

This can be dangerous at times. Of course, you cannot avoid moving out at night. So, it is recommended to visit a reputable eye clinic in Delhi and get your refractive error resolved.   

If you have Astigmatism and are experiencing problems seeing lights at night, seeing an eye doctor is the only option.

Make sure you visit a reputable clinic. Going to some random eye doctor can be detrimental to your eyes in the long term.