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How Can Ortho-K Help Improve Astigmatism?
March 11, 2025
Astigmatism is a common eye condition that can be treated with the support of a qualified optometrist who will provide prompt and accurate care for correcting your vision. Here is how orthokeratology can help treat your astigmatism.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a refractive error that causes blurry vision when the cornea, the front surface of your eye, or the lens inside your eye has an imperfect curvature. A normal eye will have a rounded shape, while an eye affected by astigmatism may have an egg or oval shape. When this happens, the cornea cannot focus light to reach the retina at the back of your eyeball. The retina converts that light into electrical signals that the optic nerve sends your brain to interpret what you see. As a result of this improper focusing, the images you see appear blurry or distorted.
Astigmatism can be found in one of two types:
- Horizontal astigmatism, where your eye is wider than it is tall
- Vertical astigmatism, where your eye is taller than it is wide
The exact cause of astigmatism is not fully understood. However, it can be inherited, present from birth or develop later in life. Astigmatism may also result from an eye injury, eye disease or complications following eye surgery.
To better understand the condition, read our complete guide to astigmatism, including its symptoms, causes and available treatment options.
How to Know If You Have Astigmatism
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, you may have astigmatism:
- Blurry or distorted vision.
- Noticeable glare or halos when looking at light sources.
- Regularly needing to squint to see things clearly.
- Pronounced difficulty seeing things at night.
- Occasional headaches when trying to look at anything.
- Occasional eye strain, especially when squinting frequently.
See an optical health professional as soon as possible to see what can be done to treat the condition.
What Causes Astigmatism to Worsen?
Ageing
As we age, our physical health slowly deteriorates. In the eyes, the cornea can gradually change shape and worsen astigmatism. The exact cause is uncertain, but it may involve changes in eye muscles and eyelid tension.
Eye Strain
Excessive screen time is more damaging to your eyes than most people realise. Spending long hours on digital screens puts continuous strain on your eye muscles. While screen time does not directly cause astigmatism, it can worsen existing symptoms such as blurry vision, headaches, and eye fatigue, making it harder to manage the condition effectively.
Eye Injuries
Our eyes are delicate organs, and injuries can easily damage and impair their functionality. Any injury to the eye can damage the cornea, lens, or retina, which then worsens your astigmatism when the eye cannot properly focus light due to said injury. Even when your eye heals from an injury, it may cause permanent changes to your eye’s structures and continue to contribute to your astigmatism.
Eye Diseases
One particular eye disease, keratoconus, causes your cornea to become thin and gradually bulge outwards in a conical shape. When this occurs, it also contributes to worsening astigmatism. While keratoconus is rare, potential risk factors include disorders affecting the eye’s connective tissues and genetics.
How Ortho-K Can Correct Astigmatism
Once a comprehensive eye test confirms astigmatism, your optometrist may recommend ortho‑k to manage it. Our Ortho‑K lenses in Singapore are a non‑invasive, non‑surgical treatment that uses rigid gas‑permeable lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea and improve vision. You wear these lenses while you sleep and remove them during the day; the effect is reversible and requires regular night‑time wear to maintain the correction.
Ortho‑k lenses gently mould the corneal surface so light focuses more accurately on the retina. Most people wear them for at least 6–8 hours overnight. On waking, you can remove the lenses and enjoy improved vision for a day or two (duration varies by individual). It commonly takes a few days to two weeks of regular use to reach near‑maximum correction.
For patients with astigmatism, a specially designed ortho‑k lens (often toric or with toric peripheral curves) may be prescribed to better address the uneven corneal curvature. These lenses must be accurately fitted and regularly reviewed; a poor fit reduces effectiveness and may cause discomfort or complications. A trained optometrist will perform the fitting, teach insertion and removal, and schedule follow‑ups to monitor corneal health and vision stability.
Start Your Orthokeratology Journey with Philip D. Izaac
Ortho-K’s many benefits for children and adults offer a safe and easy way to treat astigmatism. If you want to try ortho-K for yourself, contact Philip D. Izaac today and schedule an appointment with us. We can walk you through the entire process and answer your every question before you make a decision. We will help you see through the process with the utmost patience and care.
About the Author
Dip. Optom. | B.Sc. Optom. (USA) | M.Sc. in Clinical Optom. (USA) | MOH Reg. No. E0801695J
Philip David Izaac is a fully registered optometrist who has been in vision care since 1988. He holds a Master of Science in Clinical Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Salus University, USA, and practises at Paragon Medical Centre, Orchard Road, Singapore. Registered with the MOH Optometrists & Opticians Board (Reg. No. EO801695J) since 17 March 2008.
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