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Astigmatism occurs when the cornea has a slight irregularity
in its curvature. This irregularity results in an inability to properly focus light
onto the retina, which may lead to headaches and eyestrain in mild cases to blurriness
at all distances in more severe cases.
Ideally, the cornea should be spherical, clear and smooth.
Because the cornea is often not perfectly spherical, most people have some degree
of astigmatism. These imperfections are often present from birth and may not change
during a person's life.
It is important to note that astigmatism may adversely affect
a child's performance in the classroom. Unfortunately, astigmatism is rarely detected
during standard visual tests conducted by schools. An Optometrist, during a comprehensive
eye exam, will detect astigmatism and determine whether or not correction is necessary
as well as the degree of correction.
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