Can Astigmatism Go Away on Its Own? (2024)

Ask the experts

Can astigmatism go away on its own?

Doctor's response

No. About 30% of all people have astigmatism. In the vast majority of those, the condition does not change much after the age of 25. The presence of astigmatism as a child or young adult does not signify that an eye disease will later occur. Progressive astigmatism can occur with corneal trauma, repeated infections of the cornea, and degenerative diseases such as keratoconus.

Many patients with mild astigmatism have no symptoms from this and require no treatment. If there is regular astigmatism and it causes blurred vision, the astigmatism can be compensated for satisfactorily with eyeglasses or contact lenses. If myopia or hyperopia are also present, the glasses or contact lenses can also correct that condition. If the astigmatism is irregular or of a high degree, glasses or a soft contact lens may not fully correct the astigmatism and a hard (rigid) contact lens may be necessary to allow the eye to see normally. Neither glasses nor contact lenses permanently correct the curvature abnormality.

Modern refractive surgery, which reshapes the surface of the eye with a laser, can also be used to reduce or eliminate the astigmatism. Wavefront guided LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) can also reduce irregular astigmatism. Various considerations involving ocular health, refractive status, and lifestyle frequently determine whether one option may be better than another.

For more information read our full medical article on astigmatism causes, symptoms, and treatment.

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References

"Visual impairment in adults: Refractive disorders and presbyopia"
UpToDate.com

Can Astigmatism Go Away on Its Own? (2024)

FAQs

Can Astigmatism Go Away on Its Own? ›

After the age of 25, astigmatism will typically stay the same. It can also gradually worsen with age or due to other eye conditions. Fortunately, most astigmatism can be easily corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or laser vision surgery.

Can astigmatism go away by itself? ›

Astigmatism doesn't go away on its own, so treatments are the best way to improve it. There are two main types of astigmatism treatment – corrective lenses and surgery.

Can astigmatism be reversed naturally? ›

No, but all in all, this is a common eye condition. Over the years, optometrists have learned how to ease the symptoms, and many people with astigmatism may even forget they have it. Those with astigmatism can see very well with special contact lenses, eyeglasses, or surgery.

Is it possible for astigmatism to go down? ›

Some people are born with astigmatism. Others don't develop it until they're adults. It can get better or worse over time. Astigmatism is very common.

Can astigmatism correct itself with glasses? ›

Astigmatism Treatment. Glasses or contacts can correct almost all cases of astigmatism. But if you have only a slight astigmatism and no other vision problems, you may not need them. If you have a common level of astigmatism, you'll probably have corrective lenses, like glasses or contacts, or surgery.

How long will my astigmatism last? ›

Can astigmatism go away? In most cases, very young children “outgrow” astigmatism; however, the likelihood of outgrowing astigmatism decreases after ages 5 to 6. After the age of 25, astigmatism will typically stay the same. It can also gradually worsen with age or due to other eye conditions.

How did my astigmatism get better? ›

Over time a small amount of vertical astigmatism, probably because of the constant pressure of the lids, may diminish and even disappear but horizontal astigmatism will slowly increase over time due to the same factor. Larger amounts are generally stable and will not disappear spontaneously.

What cancels out astigmatism? ›

Special toric soft contact lenses can correct for many types of astigmatism. Because rigid gas-permeable contact lenses maintain their regular shape while on the cornea, they can compensate for the cornea's irregular shape and improve vision for people with astigmatism.

What worsens astigmatism? ›

A few factors can cause your astigmatism to worsen, including your age, eye injuries, and keratoconus. While most people are diagnosed as children, you may notice your sight worsening as an adult too. Astigmatism can also decrease, so it's not all bad news!

Will I eventually go blind with astigmatism? ›

Astigmatism is not an eye disease or health problem. While it can cause blurred vision, eye strain, and headaches, particularly after prolonged reading, it does not cause blindness.

Is it okay to ignore astigmatism? ›

Most times astigmatism is not a serious eye condition, but can cause distorted vision, eye strain, headaches and fatigue. Astigmatism can impact your school and office performances.

Why can I suddenly see better without my glasses? ›

What Could Cause Sudden Vision Improvements? It's much more common for vision improvements to be caused by medical conditions than lifestyle changes. Conditions like diabetes, cataracts, or even the development of something called “second sight” could be what's causing your vision to suddenly be better.

Is 0.75 astigmatism bad? ›

Astigmatism is measured in diopters. A perfect eye with no astigmatism has 0 diopters. Most people have between 0.5 to 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. People with a measurement of 1.5 or more typically need contacts or eyeglasses to have clear vision.

Can you have 20/20 vision with astigmatism? ›

You can have 20/20 vision and still have astigmatism. Unlike presbyopia that makes focusing on close objects difficult or impossible or myopia that makes focusing on distant objects difficult or impossible, astigmatism gives you sometimes clear vision and sometimes blurry vision at all distances.

How to fix astigmatism naturally? ›

6 Eye Exercises to Treat Astigmatism
  1. Eye Massage This exercise restores the shape of the cornea. ...
  2. Reading It helps to release the strain and pressure caused by astigmatism. ...
  3. Vision Breaks It relieves eye pressure and strain. ...
  4. Head Tilting It helps the extraocular muscles to regulate the force they exert on the eyeball.

What should you avoid if you have astigmatism? ›

Don't rub your eyes

Your eyes might be feeling itchy, and you probably think a slight rubbing won't hurt. However, considering that astigmatism affects the cornea by making it abnormal, excessively rubbing your eyes might injure your cornea further. Avoid rubbing your eyes. If the itchiness persists, see a doctor.

Can you grow out of astigmatism? ›

Sometimes children outgrow astigmatism as they get older. If young children have a lot of astigmatism in one or both eyes, though, it can lead to another condition called amblyopia. Amblyopia is when the brain does not learn to see clearly with one or both eyes. When it's caught early, the condition can be treated.

Can astigmatism be temporary? ›

Astigmatism is usually a permanent condition usually caused by an irregularity in the cornea of the eye. It can be found in myopic (nearsighted) forms, farsighted forms and even in mixed near- and far-sighted form. It is correctable surgically, though, in many cases.

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