A person’s eye is naturally spherical shaped. This means that when light enters the eye, it refracts evenly, creating a clear view of the object. However, the eye of a person with astigmatism is shaped more like a rugby ball. When light enters the eye it is refracted more in one direction than in the other which causes only part of the object to be in focus at one time. This causes objects to appear blurry.
Astigmatism can be hereditary and is often present at birth. It can also be caused by pressure on the cornea from the eyelids (this can be caused by a chalazion). Trauma to the eye or surgery can cause astigmatism.
As your child gets older, poor posture and increased use of the eyes for work can also cause astigmatism.
Find out more about diagnosing astigmatism
