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Astigmatism

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Treatment:

Glasses or hard contact lenses will correct astigmatism. Soft contact lenses do not work as well.

Expectations (prognosis):

Vision is usually normal with the correct glasses or contact lenses.

Complications:

• There are complications associated with contact lenses (including the risk of corneal abrasion ), which may develop if contact lenses are used.
• Unequal astigmatism may cause amblyopia .

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with the health care provider or ophthalmologist if vision problems worsen, or do not improve with glasses or contact lenses.

• Review Date: 8/8/2006
• Reviewed By: Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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