Astigmatism is one of the most common vision problems, but most
people don't know what it is. Many people are relieved to learn
that astigmatism is not an eye disease. Like nearsightedness and
farsightedness, astigmatism is a type of refractive error – a
condition related to the shape and size of the eye that causes
blurred vision. In addition to blurred vision, uncorrected
astigmatism can cause headaches, eyestrain and make objects at
all distances appear distorted. Astigmatism signs and symptoms
If you have only a small amount of astigmatism, you may not
notice it at all, or you may have only mildly blurred or
distorted vision. But even small amounts of uncorrected
astigmatism can cause headaches, fatigue and eyestrain over
time. Astigmatism usually develops in childhood. A study at the
Ohio State University School of Optometry found that more than
28% of schoolchildren have astigmatism. Children may be even
more unaware of the condition than adults, and they may also be
less likely to complain of blurred o