Do You Struggle with Blurry Vision or Eye Fatigue? You Might Have Astigmatism: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is not perfectly spherical, causing light to bend unevenly, making vision blurry or distorted. It is the most common refractive error, with a recent study estimating a pooled, global prevalence of 40% in adults. Some populations have more or less astigmatism, though this interpretation requires caution as studies differ in terms of magnitude of astigmatism measured.³ For example, recent studies report that up to 62% of Chinese adults, and over 50% of adults in Japan and South Korea, have astigmatism – and it reaches 92% in Koreans over age 70.³ In Europe, Northern and Western Europe report only 27% of adults are impacted, though studies show a bit higher prevalence in Germany at 32% and Spain at 54%.³ In India, the numbers are equally striking. A study in South India found that more than one in three adults has astigmatism,⁴ significant enough to require correction. And among people with cataracts, over 40% present with astigmatism exceeding 1.0 diopter,⁴ yet toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) – which are specially designed to correct astigmatism – are still not widely adopted in routine surgery. Interestingly, astigmatism appears to be on the rise in the United States, with a 10% increase from 1999 to 2008.⁵

Many people never realize they have astigmatism, as the symptoms may be minor and can appear gradually. According to Associate Professor Takushi Kawamorita, a leading voice in visual ergonomics in Japan, “Even though the image projected on the eye is blurry, the brain compensates, allowing people to read, and many get used to it.”⁶

This often leads to chronic digital eye strain, reduced reading speed, and headaches.^3,6,7 In a recent Alcon Japan survey, contact lens wearers with uncorrected astigmatism were significantly more likely to experience eye fatigue — 56% reported symptoms, compared to just 37% without astigmatism.⁶ Correcting this condition with toric contact lenses or toric IOLs can help reduce these issues and improve everyday comfort.

Why correction should be a standard, not an option

Despite how common it is, astigmatism is often left untreated—especially when it’s mild. Some still hold the outdated view that minor astigmatism doesn’t need correction, but recent research clearly shows that even low levels of uncorrected astigmatism can impair near visual performance, increase focusing strain, and reduce reading accuracy on digital devices.⁷

In a recent clinical trial at Queensland University of Technology, contact lens wearers reading on smartphones made significantly more errors using non-toric contact lenses than with spherical contact lenses. Those wearing toric contact lenses had better accuracy, lower eye strain, and clearer vision.⁶

Untreated astigmatism not only affects vision, but quality of life. In older populations, it can increase the risk for falls^*,8 – while population ageing continues to grow rapidly across Asia, raising broader health system concerns.⁹

How can you tell if you have astigmatism?

Astigmatism often goes undiagnosed. Here are some signs it may be affecting you:¹⁰

• Blurry or shadowed vision at any distance
• Trouble seeing clearly at night
• Squinting, headaches, or tired eyes after screen time
• Needing to move closer to your screen or zoom in
• Halos or glare around lights

One simple at-home check? Try looking at the moon: if its shape seems distorted or smeared, it could be a sign you have astigmatism.