Which symptom is commonly reported by patients suffering from astigmatism?

Patients suffering from astigmatism commonly report seeing halos around lights. This is due to the irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, which can cause light to be refracted improperly. As a result, when patients look at bright lights, particularly at night, the light may appear to have a halo effect, often accompanied by glare. This symptom can lead to discomfort and difficulties in low-light conditions, making it a characteristic manifestation of astigmatism.

Understanding the nature of astigmatism is essential, as it can profoundly impact visual clarity. While blurry vision at all distances, difficulty seeing at night, and issues focusing on fine print can occur in various refractive errors or other conditions, the specific phenomenon of seeing halos around lights is closely associated with the way astigmatism distorts light images due to its optical irregularities.