See through different eyes
What Astigmatism looks like
Blurred vision with reduced contrast
≈1 in 3 people · NEI · Learn more
What it is
The cornea or lens is curved more steeply in one direction than another, closer to a rugby ball than a football. Light entering along different axes focuses at different distances, so no single point of focus exists for the whole image.
What it looks like day to day
Blur that does not resolve at any distance, often with a directional quality: lines running one way look sharper than lines running the other. Point lights at night streak or star, which is why headlights and streetlights are a common first complaint. Contrast suffers along with sharpness.
What helps
Cylindrical lenses in glasses correct the uneven curvature, which is what the CYL and AXIS numbers on a prescription describe. Toric contact lenses do the same, and laser surgery can reshape the cornea directly.
Who it affects
Around one in three people to some degree, very often alongside myopia or hyperopia rather than on its own. Most cases are mild enough to need no correction.
Related conditions
Explore every condition or learn about color blindness.
This is an approximation, not a medical diagnosis.