- Visit an eye doctor regularly for the best advice on managing your astigmatism.
- Wear special eyeglasses designed for astigmatism to reduce any distortion in your vision.
- Utilize computer-assisted eye exercises to help strengthen weakened eye muscles and relax strained eyes.
- Take regular breaks from activities that require sustained focus to reduce eyestrain.
- Seek out dimmer lighting conditions and use task and natural light to help mitigate astigmatism symptoms.
Having astigmatism can be a very frustrating experience. It can cause blurry vision and make it difficult to focus on small details. Fortunately, some tips can help you manage this condition and improve your overall vision health. This guide will discuss five simple tips for dealing with astigmatism that may help you get the most out of your vision.
1. Visit An Eye Doctor Regularly
Regularly visiting a reliable eye center is the best way to ensure you keep up with your vision health. An optometrist or ophthalmologist can assess any changes in your astigmatism and whether corrective lenses may be needed. They can also recommend other treatments that may help improve your vision, such as special contact lenses or surgery. Regular visits to an eye center for comprehensive eye exams are recommended for people with astigmatism, especially if their condition worsens.
2. Wear Proper Eyewear
Astigmatism can be managed with the proper eyeglasses. Eyewear for astigmatism consists of special lenses designed to help correct your vision and reduce any distortions caused by astigmatism. Your eye care professional can recommend the best optical lenses to improve your vision and reduce your symptoms.
Toric lenses, which have different refractive powers in each meridian, are often used to correct astigmatism. These lenses help focus light onto the retina and offer clearer vision than regular lenses. Progressive eyeglasses can also help manage astigmatism by providing a smooth transition between distance and near vision, making it easier for you to do activities like reading and driving.
3. Use Computer-Assisted Eye Exercises
Computer-Assisted Eye Exercises, or CAEEs, are an effective way to reduce the effects of astigmatism. Using specialized software and hardware, these exercises can help improve vision by strengthening eye muscles weakened by astigmatism. The exercises involve adjusting the focus on a computer screen to sharpen one’s vision. This can be done in various ways, such as by working with colors or shapes on the screen and practicing relaxation techniques like palming and focusing exercises. CAEEs are an effective way to improve vision due to astigmatism since they target the affected areas directly.
In addition to improving eyesight, CAEEs can help relax the eye muscles contributing to astigmatism. This is achieved by maintaining a relaxed gaze and not straining or overworking the eyes. By offering relief from eyestrain, CAEEs have been found to reduce the pain associated with astigmatism.
4. Take Breaks When Working or Reading
People who suffer from astigmatism can experience headaches and eye strain when reading for long periods or focusing on a computer screen for an extended period. Regular breaks from activities requiring sustained focus are important to reduce this discomfort. When taking breaks, move away from your workstation and do something that relaxes your eyes, such as looking out the window or focusing on an object far away.
5. Seek Out Certain Lighting Conditions
Sometimes, certain lighting conditions can exacerbate astigmatism symptoms. To limit this issue, seeking out dimmer lighting in environments such as your home or work is important.
Here are some ways to have better lighting conditions:
Install Lights with Shades or Covers
Installing lights with shades or covers effectively reduces the light in your environment and helps mitigate astigmatism symptoms. These covers can be decorative, like a lamp shade, or more functional, like a skylight cover.
Reduce Glare
Glare from windows or bright surfaces can be especially irritating for someone with astigmatism. Installing blinds, drapes, or curtains in the areas where most of the light is coming from can reduce the severity of this issue.
Utilize Task Lighting
Lighting focusing on smaller room sections can also reduce astigmatism symptoms. You can use various sources like wall-mounted, desk, and night lights.
Use Natural Light
Whenever possible, try to spend your time in rooms with lots of natural light or make sure you are taking advantage of natural lighting outdoors. This helps to provide a more comfortable, less stressful environment. When the sun is low in the sky during sunset, it is much easier to maintain a lower level of light and reduce astigmatism symptoms.
In Summary
Living with astigmatism can be difficult, but there are steps you can take to ensure that your condition does not impede your daily life. Living with astigmatism will become much easier with the right care and attention to detail. Following the five tips above can help you manage your astigmatism and enjoy clearer vision.
