87 Success WORDS: Dr. Paige Laudicina refers to the shape of the front portion (the cornea) of the eye. In an ideal world, the cornea would be completely round, and light would hit each part of the cornea and focus perfectly on the retina. When you have astigmatism, the cornea has an atypical shape, creating multiple points of focus on the back of the eye, and a blurred image for the viewer. Depending on the amount of astigmatism a person has, symptoms may vary from mild strain and headaches to very blurred vision at both distance and near. Each of these conditions is easily detected during an eye exam, and can be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. Some prescriptions may require full time wear, while others only part time. One last point of mention is, it is important to differentiate a vision screening like the ones performed at the pediatrician’s of��ce or at school, from a comprehensive eye exam done at an optometrist’s of��ce. Screenings typically only measure acuity, or your child’s ability to resolve detail. A comprehensive eye exam will go into much more detail, measuring refractive error (the need for glasses), eye alignment and binocular vision (how comfortably the two eyes work together), and color vision, along with a full ocular health evaluation encompassing the front and back of the eye (seen with dilation). In summary, I recommend a comprehensive eye exam to ensure your child’s eyes are ready to take on the visual demands of another school year. Set your child up for success!
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