Astigmatism occurs when your cornea is shaped more like a football than a basketball.

Sometimes astigmatism can be caused by an irregular shaped lens inside the eye. This irregular shape causes distortion or blurry images due to the unequal bending. Astigmatism is a very common condition and most people (especially those with nearsightedness or farsightedness) have it to some degree. 

People with mild astigmatism can experience slightly blurred or distorted vision at all distances, but people’s vision with extreme astigmatism can be affected so much, it prevents them from performing their daily activities. Astigmatism can be corrected with either LASIK, PRK, SMILE, RLE, or ICL.

Chart Illustrating How Astigmatism Affects an Eye