8 ‫اخطاء انكسار‬ ‫بصريات‬/‫هرحلة ثانية‬  ‫حسن عبد الهادي الجابري‬

Astigmatism
It is a type of refractive error wherein the refraction varies in different meridians. The rays
of light entering the eye cannot converge to a point focus but form focal lines.
‫ ال ٌمكه أن تتالقى أشعت‬.‫هى وىع مه انخطأ االوكساري حٍث ٌختهف االوكسار فً خطىط انطىل (انمحاور) انمختهفت‬
.‫انضىء انتً تدخم انعٍه إنى تركٍز وقطت ونكىها تشكم خطىطًا بؤرٌت‬

There are three primary types of astigmatism:

 Simple astigmatism:
 Simple hyperopic astigmatism – first focal line is on the retina, while the second is
located behind the retina.
 Simple myopic astigmatism – first focal line is in front of the retina, while the second
is on the retina.
 Compound astigmatism:
 Compound hyperopic astigmatism – both focal lines are located behind the retina.
 Compound myopic astigmatism – both focal lines are located in front of the retina.
 Mixed astigmatism: one principal meridian is nearsighted, and the other is farsighted.

Types of astigmatism
Based on axis of the principal meridian:
1- Regular astigmatism ‫ االستكواتيزم الونتظن‬: the principal meridians are 90 degrees apart
(perpendicular to each other).
2- Irregular astigmatism ‫ االستكواتيزم غير الونتظن‬: the principal meridians are not
perpendicular.

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 8 ‫اخطاء انكسار‬ ‫بصريات‬/‫هرحلة ثانية‬  ‫حسن عبد الهادي الجابري‬

1- Regular astigmatism ‫االستكواتيزم الونتظن‬

It is regular when the refractive power changes uniformly from one meridian to another
(i.e. there are two principle meridians).
.)‫وهً مىتظمت عىدما تتغٍر قىة االوكسار بأوتظاو مه خظ انطىل إنى آخر (أي هىاك خطان مبدئٍان‬

A etiology ‫هسببات الورض‬

1. Corneal astigmatism
2. Lenticular astigmatism
3. Retinal astigmatism

Types of regular astigmatism

Depending upon the axis and the angle between the two principle meridians, regular
astigmatism can be classified into the following types:

1. With the rule astigmatism

The two principle meridians are placed at right angles to one another but the vertical
meridian is more curved than the horizontal meridian.

- The vertical meridian is steepest

- corrected using spectacles which have a "minus" cylinder placed on horizontal axis
- Seen in younger patient and myopic eyes.

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 8 ‫اخطاء انكسار‬ ‫بصريات‬/‫هرحلة ثانية‬  ‫حسن عبد الهادي الجابري‬

2. Against the rule astigmatism

The two principle meridians are placed at right angles to one another but the horizontal
meridian is more curved than the vertical meridian.

- The horizontal meridian is steepest

- corrected using spectacles which have a "minus" cylinder placed on vertical axis
- Seen in older patient (cataract patient).

3. Oblique astigmatism
The two principle meridians are not the horizontal and vertical though these are at right
angle to one another.
- the steepest curve lies in between 120 and 150 degrees and 30 and 60 degrees

4. Bi-oblique astigmatism
The two principle meridians are not at right angle to each other.