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Cylindrical eye or astigmatism is a refractive disorder that is usually experienced along with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Astigmatism makes it difficult for the eye to see objects clearly, both from close and far away. However, the cause of cylindrical eyes is different from farsightedness or farsightedness. In addition, various factors can also increase a person's chances of experiencing cylindrical eyes.
Causes of cylindrical eyes
People with cylindrical eyes will experience visual problems, such as difficulty focusing on seeing straight lines or blurred vision. However, some of them may not realize they have cylinder eyes because the symptoms they experience are usually mild.
Normally, light entering the eye will be captured by the lens and cornea, which is located at the front of the eye. These two parts of the eye have a curved surface structure to allow light to be refracted right on the retina at the back of the eye.
In a cylindrical eye, the cornea or lens has an abnormally curved shape. As a result, light cannot focus refracted on the retina. The shape of the front eye becomes more rounded unlike the normal eye which is more curved.
As a result, two image signals are sent to the brain, where one another overlaps. Changes in the curvature of the cornea or retina are the causes of cylindrical eyes.
However, the shape of the curvature of the retina and cornea in the eye can indeed change. Changes in curvature generally occur when the eye develops, during adulthood, or when experiencing eye diseases such as cataracts.
Risk factors for cylindrical eyes
It is not certain what causes corneal and lens deformities in people with cylindrical eyes. However, the American Optometric Association explains that the cause of a cylindrical eye is strongly related to heredity.
If there are family members who have cylindrical eyes, then you are most likely affected by this vision problem.
However, experts also know that certain health problems and conditions can increase a person's risk of having cylindrical eyes.
Apart from heredity, other risk factors that can cause cylindrical eyes include:
- Experiencing abnormalities in the eye that cause a decrease in vision, such as continuous thinning of the cornea, namely keratoconus
- Side effects of the eye surgery procedure
- Experiencing an injury to the eye that makes the cornea and lens affected
- Have eye refractive errors, such as severe nearsightedness and farsightedness
- Experience Down syndrome
It is important to know that the cause of cylindrical eyes is not related to reading, watching or playing habits gadget too close or in a dark place. This assumption is just a myth.
How to deal with cylindrical eyes?
Although the symptoms of a cylindrical eye are relatively mild and do not bother you, if they are left unchecked, they can actually cause astigmatism to get worse.
Cylindrical eyes that get worse can cause complications such as infections, dry eyes, corneal damage to loss of vision.
Therefore, it is best if you consult your doctor immediately when you experience symptoms that suspect cylindrical eyes. The doctor will determine the right treatment for the cylinder eye condition you are experiencing.
Treatment for astigmatism can be done by:
- Using glasses or contact lenses with cylindrical lenses
- Perform refraction surgery, such as LASIK, LASEK, photorefractive keratectomy , Epi-LASIK, and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).
However, the subtle cylindrical eye symptoms make many sufferers unaware of this condition, especially in children. To detect cylindrical eyes, you can do an eye refraction exam or a more complete eye exam so you can find out other vision problems.
There is also a good idea if you do regular eye examinations to detect various eye problems early on.
