Astigmatism is not a monster!
I. Why does astigmatism occur? Is it "congenital"? Actually, almost everyone has astigmatism, just to varying degrees. Newborns typically have astigmatism as high as 600 degrees, which frightens many parents, but this is a normal physiological phenomenon. As children grow and their eye structure matures, the degree of astigmatism usually decreases naturally. The main source of astigmatism is an irregular corneal shape; simply put, the cornea is "not round enough," like a rugby ball instead of a basketball. This shape difference prevents light from focusing on a single point, leading to blurred vision. Furthermore, an imbalance in pressure between the extraocular muscles and eyelids can also affect corneal shape, causing changes in astigmatism. This "stress" changes over time, with eye habits, and even sleeping position, so astigmatism is not static!
II. Is astigmatism hereditary? Many parents, upon hearing that their child has astigmatism, begin to "self-examine": Did I pass it on to him? In fact, there is no such thing as "hereditary astigmatism" in medicine. While myopia has a certain hereditary tendency (especially high myopia), astigmatism is primarily a physiological structural problem and is not considered a hereditary disease. In many families with two children, it's common for one child to have astigmatism while the other doesn't. So, stop blaming yourself; astigmatism isn't "passed down from parents to children." Third, does astigmatism lead to amblyopia? "Will my child's high astigmatism cause amblyopia?"—This is a common concern for many parents. Actually, astigmatism itself does not directly cause amblyopia. The causes of amblyopia are complex, and common factors include: abnormal axial length development (such as an excessively short axial length), anisometropia (a large difference in refractive power between the two eyes), poor accommodative ability, and poor eye habits (such as tilting the head to look at things or writing).
