Astigmatism Correction & Glasses in Brooklyn

Astigmatism is one of the most common vision problems, and it makes your vision blurry at both near and far distances. The good news is that it's easy to correct with the right glasses or contact lenses once you're properly evaluated.

If you've been told you have astigmatism or you're noticing blurry or distorted vision, Dr. Shlivko at Nostrand Optical in Crown Heights can help you understand what's happening and get you the correction you need.

Key Takeaways

• Astigmatism causes blurry vision at all distances due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens
• It's one of the most common refractive errors and often occurs with myopia or hyperopia
• Astigmatism is easily corrected with glasses or toric contact lenses
• Dr. Shlivko screens for astigmatism during a comprehensive eye exam in Crown Heights
• Specialty lenses and anti-reflective coatings can improve comfort and clarity for astigmatism patients

What Is Astigmatism and How Does It Happen?

Astigmatism happens when your cornea (the clear front of your eye) or lens has an irregular shape. Instead of being perfectly round like a basketball, it's shaped more like a football. This irregular shape causes light rays to focus at multiple points on the retina instead of one single point, which results in blurred or distorted vision at all distances.

You're not born with astigmatism because of anything you did wrong. It's simply a difference in how your eye is shaped. Many people have astigmatism from birth, while others develop it over time due to eye injury, surgery, or certain eye conditions. It's actually very common — about one in three people in the United States have some degree of astigmatism.

Astigmatism often happens alongside other refractive errors. You might have astigmatism combined with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). This combination is common and easily managed with the right correction.

Common Symptoms of Astigmatism

If you have astigmatism, you might notice several vision symptoms:

• Blurry or distorted vision at all distances — both near and far
• Eye strain after reading, using a computer, or doing detailed work
• Headaches that come and go, especially after visual tasks
• Difficulty seeing fine details like street signs or small print
• Squinting without realizing it to try to focus better
• Tired eyes at the end of the day, even when you haven't done much

Many people with mild astigmatism don't notice obvious symptoms and think their vision is normal. That's why a proper eye exam matters — Dr. Shlivko can measure your astigmatism even if you're not sure something's wrong.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's time for an exam. Schedule an eye exam in Crown Heights with Dr. Shlivko to find out what's affecting your vision.

How Dr. Shlivko Diagnoses Astigmatism

During a comprehensive eye exam at Nostrand Optical, Dr. Shlivko uses several tools to diagnose astigmatism and measure its severity.

Automated Refraction: A machine called an autorefractor measures your eye's focusing power and detects astigmatism automatically. It's quick and painless — you look into the machine and it gives Dr. Shlivko a baseline measurement.

Manual Refraction: Dr. Shlivko then refines this measurement using a phoropter, a mechanical device with multiple lens options. You'll look through it and tell him which lens combination makes your vision clearest. This step is crucial because it captures your exact prescription, including the degree and axis of your astigmatism.

Keratometry: This test measures the curvature of your cornea. Since astigmatism usually stems from an irregular corneal shape, keratometry helps Dr. Shlivko understand the source of your vision problem.

Visual Acuity Test: You'll read letters on a chart to confirm how clearly you see with and without correction.

The entire exam takes about 45 minutes, and Dr. Shlivko will explain what he finds and answer any questions you have about your astigmatism.

Glasses for Astigmatism Correction

Glasses are the simplest and most common way to correct astigmatism. Once Dr. Shlivko determines your precise prescription, he'll write a script that includes your sphere power (for myopia or hyperopia), cylinder power (the astigmatism correction), and axis (the orientation of that correction).

Toric Lenses: These specialty lenses have different powers in different meridians of the lens, which corrects the irregular focusing caused by astigmatism. Toric lenses are standard for astigmatism correction and work very well.

Anti-Reflective Coating: Because astigmatism causes some light scattering, an anti-reflective coating on your lenses reduces glare and improves contrast, especially when driving at night or working on screens. Many patients find this coating makes a real difference.

Progressive Lenses: If you're 40 and older and have astigmatism, you may also need bifocal or progressive (no-line) lenses to handle both distance and reading vision. Progressive lenses with astigmatism correction are available and work well for most people.

At Nostrand Optical, we carry designer frames from Gucci, Versace, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana, so you can get corrected lenses in frames you actually want to wear. Same-day glasses are available for most prescriptions — you don't have to wait a week to start seeing clearly.

If you're ready to correct your astigmatism with glasses, book your exam at Nostrand Optical on Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights. We accept Medicaid, Medicare, and most major insurance plans.

Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

Contact lenses are another excellent option for astigmatism correction, especially if you prefer not to wear glasses or if you're active in sports.

Toric Contact Lenses: These specialty contacts have different powers in different meridians, just like toric glasses. They're designed specifically for astigmatism and come in single-vision, bifocal, and multifocal versions.

Why Some People Prefer Contacts for Astigmatism: Contacts sit directly on your eye, so they move with your eyes and provide a wider field of clear vision compared to glasses. There's no frame boundary limiting your sight. If you have mild to moderate astigmatism, you might find contacts more comfortable and convenient.

Proper Fitting Is Essential: Not all contacts work for all prescriptions. Dr. Shlivko performs a dedicated contact lens fitting that includes measuring your cornea's curvature and trying different lens types to find the best fit and vision for you. A proper fit means comfort, clear vision, and the lowest risk of complications.

Contact Lens Fitting for Astigmatism: Maria's Story

Maria, 38, had been wearing glasses for years to correct her astigmatism and myopia. She worked as a graphic designer and found that glasses were getting in the way — she'd push them up constantly, and the frames would get in the way of her headphones. She decided to try toric contact lenses.

Dr. Shlivko fitted her with a trial pair and explained how to insert, remove, and care for them. Maria came back a week later for a follow-up to make sure the fit was right and her vision was clear. The fit was perfect, and she's been wearing toric contacts ever since. "I can actually see my entire design screen without adjusting my glasses," she told us. "It's made my work life so much easier."

Astigmatism in Children

Children can have astigmatism too, and it's important to catch it early. Undetected astigmatism in a child can affect school performance, reading ability, and eye development. Some children may not even know they're seeing blurrily because it's all they've known.

If your child is struggling in school, squinting at the board, complaining of headaches, or sitting too close to screens, an eye exam is a good idea. Dr. Shlivko sees children ages 7 and up and can diagnose and correct astigmatism with glasses that actually work.

Astigmatism and Other Refractive Errors

Astigmatism rarely exists by itself. Most people with astigmatism also have either myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), or both.

Myopic Astigmatism: You see clearly up close but blurrily at a distance, and your vision is blurred in all meridians.

Hyperopic Astigmatism: You have trouble seeing clearly at all distances, and you may strain to focus on near objects.

Mixed Astigmatism: One meridian of your eye is myopic and the other is hyperopic.

Dr. Shlivko's comprehensive exam identifies all of these combinations and writes a prescription that corrects everything at once. You don't need separate appointments or multiple pairs of glasses — one prescription handles it all.

Astigmatism and Digital Eye Strain

If you spend hours on screens (computer, phone, tablet), you might notice that astigmatism makes digital eye strain worse. The irregular focusing that astigmatism causes makes your eye muscles work harder to maintain clarity on screens. This leads to fatigue, headaches, and discomfort.

Solutions for Screen Time:

• Blue light blocking lenses: These filter some of the blue light emitted by screens, which can reduce eye strain
• Anti-reflective coating: Reduces glare from screen reflections
• Proper glasses prescription: Wearing the correct astigmatism correction takes strain off your eyes
• 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to relax your focusing muscles

If you spend a lot of time on screens and have astigmatism, let Dr. Shlivko know during your exam. He can recommend lens options that make screen work more comfortable.

Astigmatism Treatment: More Than Just Glasses

While glasses and contact lenses are the primary corrections for astigmatism, there are a few other options worth knowing about.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): This is a specialized contact lens treatment that gently reshapes your cornea while you sleep. You wear the special lenses overnight, remove them in the morning, and can see without correction all day. Ortho-K is FDA-approved and works well for mild to moderate astigmatism, though it requires ongoing lens wear. Dr. Shlivko can discuss whether this is appropriate for you.

Refractive Surgery (LASIK): Some people with astigmatism choose LASIK to permanently reshape their cornea. However, LASIK is a surgical procedure and carries risks. It's also not appropriate for everyone. If you're interested in discussing surgical options, Dr. Shlivko can refer you to a qualified ophthalmologist.

Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL): For people with severe astigmatism or those who aren't candidates for LASIK, ICL surgery places a permanent lens inside your eye. Again, this is a surgical option that requires a specialist referral.

For most people, correctly prescribed glasses or toric contact lenses are the safest, most affordable, and most effective way to manage astigmatism.

How Astigmatism Changes Over Time

Astigmatism isn't always static. Your degree of astigmatism can change slightly over time, especially during childhood and adolescence. That's why annual or biennial eye exams are important — Dr. Shlivko can track changes in your astigmatism and update your prescription when needed.

After age 40, you might notice that presbyopia (age-related loss of focusing ability) combines with your existing astigmatism. This is normal and is why progressive lenses become important for many people in their 40s and 50s.

If you have a significant increase in astigmatism over a short time, it can occasionally signal an underlying eye condition, so it's good to have Dr. Shlivko check it out.

Astigmatism Prescription Change: James's Experience

James, 52, had worn the same astigmatism correction for about five years. When he came in for his annual exam, Dr. Shlivko discovered his astigmatism had shifted slightly — both the power and the axis had changed a bit. His old glasses were making his vision work harder than necessary.

With an updated prescription that also included progressive lenses for his reading vision, James felt like he'd gotten a pair of new eyes. "I didn't realize how much strain I was putting on myself," he said. "Everything is crisp now, and I don't get the afternoon headaches I used to."

Living Well With Astigmatism

Astigmatism is manageable and very treatable. The key is getting a proper diagnosis and the right correction for your specific prescription.

Once you've got the right glasses or contacts, most people forget they have astigmatism at all. You see clearly, your eyes feel comfortable, and you can go about your day without thinking about it.

Here's what matters:

• Get a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose astigmatism accurately
• Choose the correction method that fits your lifestyle (glasses, contacts, or both)
• Update your prescription whenever Dr. Shlivko recommends it — usually every 1-2 years
• Protect your eyes from UV damage by wearing sunglasses outdoors
• Take breaks from screens and practice good eye hygiene

Schedule Your Astigmatism Evaluation in Crown Heights

If you think you might have astigmatism, or if you've been told you have it but aren't happy with your current correction, it's time for a proper evaluation. Dr. Shlivko at Nostrand Optical can diagnose your astigmatism, explain exactly what it means for your vision, and fit you with glasses or contact lenses that work.

We're located at 1018C Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights, right on Nostrand between Empire Boulevard and Eastern Parkway. We accept Medicaid, Medicare, and most major insurance plans — verify your coverage here. If you're not sure whether we take your plan, just call and we'll figure it out.

Same-day glasses are available for most prescriptions, so you can walk out with clear vision the same day as your exam. We also carry designer frames from Gucci, Versace, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana if you want your corrective lenses in frames you love.

Book your comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Shlivko today. You can also learn more about our eye care services or call us directly to ask questions about astigmatism correction.

Don't live with blurry or distorted vision. Clear sight is possible, and it starts with the right diagnosis.