Cylindrical eyes have the medical term astigmatism. The term refers to the condition of the eyes that have blurred vision and shaded because the shape of the cornea or the lens is not perfectly convex.
The most common signs and symptoms felt by a cylindrical eye patient are blurred vision or ghosting. Patients become often squint when looking far or near. In addition, patients usually complain of difficulty reading small writing. Headaches, tense eyes, and fatigue after reading or using the computer are some of the complaints that may arise if these conditions are not treated. In mild cyst eye disorders, visual impairment may not occur significantly.
Unfortunately, if cylindrical eyes are suffered by children, they most likely will not notice it. This may happen because the children's knowledge of an object is not perfect. In children, cylindrical eye symptoms can be the difficulty of focusing on the writing printed in their books. They may also experience headaches, tiredness, and tension in the eyes.
Why Can Eyes Cylinder ?
The eye has several key components in order to see well. One is the optical eye system consisting of the cornea and lens. Both are shoulder to shoulder to keep the incoming light focused to form the perfect image on the retina.
In patients with cylindrical eyes, the cornea undergoes imperfections. The cornea should have a perfect form of convex, resembling an arch on the ball. In the eyes of the cylinders, the curvature of the eyeball resembles a rugby ball. Imperfect imperfections of the lens can also cause cylindrical eyes.
When the congestion formed is not perfect alias uneven, then the automatic cylinder eye will be suffered. Because, the light coming from the cornea is not focused on a single point in the retina that makes the vision blurred.
In addition to the shape defects that are usually obtained from birth, some of the following conditions can cause cylindrical eyes.
■ Infections that cause scarring of the cornea.
■ Perform eye surgery that causes corneal changes.
■ Swelling, thinning, or alteration of the cornea.
■ Conditions affecting the eyelids that cause corneal disturbance.
Treatments that can be done
The following ways can be used in order to improve the eyesight impaired due to cylindrical eyes.
■ Wearing glasses
Using a specially designed lens, eyeglasses are the easiest way to correct blurred vision or shadowing due to cylindrical eyes.
■ Using contact lenses
The principle of contact lenses is actually the same as glasses. The proper selection of glasses or contact lenses depends on the patient's appetite. In order not to choose wrong, make sure to consult with an ophthalmologist.
■ LASIK surgery
Through this procedure, the shape of the cornea is changed by laser. Initially the surface layer of the cornea is opened (flap) using a special tool called keratom. The laser is then used to alter the shape of the cornea layer beneath the opened layer. The flap is then closed again.
■ LASEK operations
This procedure is almost the same as LASIK, but the flap is made thinner, just as thick as the epithelial layer.
■ Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
Through this CRP procedure, the epithelial layer is removed without making a flap. After LASIK and LASEK surgeries are found, this procedure is rarely used.
If you are exposed to a cylindrical eye and want to improve it, consult your doctor to determine which procedure suits your condition and wants to be taken.