In an eye with astigmatism, the front of the cornea is not equally curved; it is slightly oval in shape, much like a football, and causes light entering the eye to bend unequally, therefore distorting the image. This condition affects nearly 30% of the non-Asian population. Often, astigmatism occurs in conjunction with myopia or hyperopia, which can complicate refractive surgery.

Symptoms and correction
Astigmatic symptoms alone can be difficult to detect, but it's possible that you may notice a subtle difficulty focusing on objects such as printed words. Your doctor, however, can definitively identify this condition during a comprehensive eye examination. Eyeglasses, contact lenses and even refractive surgery can effectively correct astigmatism.