There’s no getting rid of astigmatism

Astigmatism is a dynamic phenomenon, changing with accommodation and shifting toward and against the rule orientation as patients age, Julian D Stevens DO told the ESCRS Symposium at the AAO. “Astigmatism is present in all eyes,” he said.

Dr Stevens’ research also suggests that patients often prefer a small amount of astigmatism if it is in a vertical or horizontal axis, but are less tolerant of oblique astigmatism. Astigmatism, along with higher order aberrations, may help with accommodative response, and may have some role in ocular growth and regulation.