I'm young, and I have severe astigmatism. Could this be a bad sign for the future?

Question

I'm only 15, and I have severe astigmatism. It's getting worse and worse every year, and my parents and doctors are getting worried. My prescription for my left eye is -4.50, -1.25, x180. My right eye is much worse.

My question is, should I worry? My dad has bad astigmatism too, so it must be a gene thing... but still, I have worse astigmatism as him. Is it possible for my astigmatism to get so bad that I become legally blind in the future? Is there anything I can do to slow down the astigmatism? I'm worrying a lot, someone please answer!

Thanks

Answer 1

Astigmatism is almost never anything to worry about.

And -1.25 is not severe astigmatism.
(I have -3.25 D astigmatism in either eye, and barely consider that severe. 4-6, that's severe. I've seen people with 11 dioptres of astigmatism)

If your astigmatism is horizontal, as the "180" indicates, there is every chance of that reducing slowly over the ears, whatever you basic shortsight is doing.

The chance of you going legally blind with astigmatism is almost non-existent. So you utterly should not worry.

If this is anywhere near the top of your worry list, then either the rest of your life must be utterly trouble free, or your priorities are way off. (Age fifteen: any guesses what the biggest risk to your life is in the next few years, if you're anything like average?* )

There is one *rare* corneal condition associated with progressive astigmatism, keratoconus, but since there
early diagnosis and intervention doesn't make any difference to the long-term outcome, and there are treatment options available when required, even that should not be appearing over your worry horizon.

Relax. Honestly, relax.
(I'd try for "Chill out, dude", but I suspect that's wrong for both our generations)

*road traffic accidents. Being in and around motor vehicles.

Optometrist, retired.

Answer 2

It's sad to say, but I think your prescription is going to get worse until you reach 20-25.

If it makes you feel any better, when I was 14, I had an eye exam done. Now I am about 19, and the number of diopters in the "cylinder" column did not change since then (It was -.50 in my left eye and -1.00 in my right eye on both tests). My axis did change some degrees, though. My Sphere numbers got a lot worse though (went from being a -1.50 in my left eye to being a -2.75 in my left eye). Which means I got more nearsighted.

If possible, you might want to look into getting contacts. I have read that they can stabilize you some (though I am not sure how long you would have to wear the things each day for that to work).

I am not sure if you should worry or not about your vision. I think I'd hate to have your eyes. But if your glasses are correcting the vision well, don't worry about things now.

Answer 3

that is not "severe" astigmatism by anyone's definition. thats mild astigmatism. no worries.

no...no "bad sign for the future". no long term effects.

Answer 4

1

Answer 5

I have bad astigmatism also and it stabilized when I reached adulthood.