Anyone with Astigmatism or know someone with Astigmatism?

Question

What do you generally and do you need special glasses or contacts?

Edit : What do you generally SEE and do you need special glasses or contacts for corrections?

thanks guys and gals for all the 4 answers so far. nelabis :=) for sharing about the green man! this helps me to know about this term better.

Answer 1

I have an astigmatism. It means my eyeball is not round, more oval. I am very long sighted. I wear glasses and have done since I was 3. I could get contacts but after years of wearing national health specs I relish in choosing a funky pair every year.
I don't feel my vision is adversely afftected by it as my glasses give me as close to 20/20 as possible. The lenses are specifically made to suit my eyes. I once went to a different optician as it was cheaper and she missed that I have an astigmatism so my lenses were wrong and after a couple of weeks I got that I felt queasy, probably because I was constantly straining to focus properly. So it cost me nearly double in the long run so I don't worry about the cost anymore. Its better just to see well.
I do notice that when I'm tired or have had a couple of drinks and look in the mirror, it looks like one eye is away to the shops and the other is coming back with the change. My affected eye turns in the way but again I don't notice it causing vision issues I just get very tired eyes and want to sleep.

Answer 2

You know the little green man at the traffic lights - when I'm across the street it seems to me that he has four hands and three legs. My doctor recommended not using glasses yet as my problem is not so serious yet. If I don't strain my eyes they get better very soon. My mom has astigmatism, too, and she wears special glasses.

Answer 3

I have slight astigmatism. I only wear glasses if I need them (reading for a long time or in front of the computer) so most f the time I have none at all

Answer 4

No just go to a regular eye doctor. Me personally my eyes are sensitive to bright light, and I only have to wear glasses when my eyes get tired from a lot of straining.