What are the different types of astigmatism?

The types of astigmatism explained!

With hyperopia and myopia, astigmatism is a visual disorder caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea or the eye’s lens. This abnormal curvature prevents rays of light to converge on a single precise point on the retina, leading to a blurry or distorted visual acuity. Discover in this article the different types of astigmatism and how to treat them!

les symptômes des types d'astigmatisme

First symptom

for all types of astigmatism

different types of astigmatism share common symptoms, such as:

  • a discomfort while reading (letters looking the same or merging);
  • a blurry vision in dim light;
  • migraines
  • a light visual fatigue

Being aware of these first symptoms means being able to detect different types of astigmatism at an early stage, in order to offer an adapted optical correction to these sight problems.

These symptoms can be hard to detect considering how light they are. Focusing at work, fatigue or a low light level may increase them.

Discover the 3 types of astigmatism: myopic, hyperopic and mixed

There are several types of astigmatism; in any vase, it is necessary to correct the vision with an adapted solution. 

This defect in the eye is categorized as:

  • myopic astigmatism (or with the rule, WTR)
  • hyperopic astigmatism (or against the rule)
  • mixed astigmatism: the rarest

Know two more types of astigmatism:

regular and irregular

Most of the time, when me mention visual disorder, we talk about regular astigmatism. However there are two separate types of astigmatism:

  • The regular: glasses or contact lenses can correct it;
  • the irregular: when the cornea is irregular, it means it’s deeply distorted (like with a keratoconus). In order to change the acuity


Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger’s team draws your attention to the fact that irregular astigmatism is rare.The regular is the most frequent: it is characterized by one arched axis while the second one is less arched.

How to recognize the signs of an

heavy astigmatism amongst all the types of astigmatism?

Amongst all the types of astigmatism, it’s important to be able to know and recognize the symptoms of heavy astigmatism in order to quickly make an appointment with your ophthalmologist. 

If you notice:

  • a stronger recurrence of the symptoms;
  • a heavy loss of near and far vision.


If you notice any brutal change in your vision, do not wait and consult with an eye care professional, or ophthalmologic emergencies.

How to

treat the different types of astigmatism ?

To correct your sight, you can wear, based on the necessary correction level:

The goal is to correct the defect in the cornea in order to get a near and far vision as clear as possible.

 

To begin with, if you suffer from astigmatism, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. They both are able to give you an adapted prescription that will allow the curvature of your eye to accommodate properly.

If you’re already wearing an optical gear, your prescription can be adjusted to the dioptre level of either one or both eyes. This will help you to once again see clearly.

treat types of astigmatism

The eye surgery: a solution for all types of astigmatism?

Refractive eye surgery is an option worth considering for anyone suffering from astigmatism, who wish to completely eliminate the need of wearing corrective or contact lenses. 

Astigmatism can be corrected with several kinds of surgery. These procedures consist in remodeling the cornea in order to correct the irregular curvature of the eye.

Before going through surgery, it is important to consult a qualified and trained ophthalmologist to consider every available option and the potential risks associated with refractive surgery.


It is also important to consider that not all patients are good candidates for refractive surgery. The different types of astigmatism can cause visual disorders beyond a simple blurry vision.

As a conclusion

In the end, astigmatism treatment depends on the individual needs: Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger offers a solution suitable for each and every patient! With a trained ophthalmologist, patients can work on finding the best solution to treat their vision problems and retrieve a clear and distinct sight.

To be discovered

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