Will reading in poor light when you're young cause astigmatism?

My non-medical background says this is an old wive’s tale, with no basis in truth.
You can strain your eyes, but you can’t cause an astigmatism.

No. An astigmatism means that your eyeball isn’t perfectly round and is why the image doesn’t focus on the retina perfectly. Has nothing to do with reading in low light. That just causes eye fatigue.

No, nothing you did can cause astigmatism:

“If the cornea does not curve perfectly – if one half is flatter or steeper than the other – the light that hits it will not refract properly and the retina at the back of the eye will receive an imperfect image. The person will have blurred vision from that eye – astigmatism.

People with astigmatism commonly have an oblong-shaped (oval-shaped) cornea rather than a perfect sphere shape.

Experts are not sure why some people are born with a cornea that does not curve properly. Some studies indicate a baby has a higher risk of having astigmatism if one or both of the parents have it.

A higher percentage of babies born prematurely, as well as those born with a low bodyweight have astigmatism, compared to other babies.

Certain types of surgery or eye injuries that cause scarring of the cornea may cause astigmatism.

Keratoconus, a degenerative disorder of the eye where the cornea gradually thins and changes to a more conical shape, can also cause astigmatism.”

Medical News Today

No. I discovered mine, along with being nearsighted, in the beginning of fourth grade.

That’s what I thought. And I’ll tell you…my eyes were so bad I must’ve had square corneas! @gailcalled Y’suppose the gene that is responsible for poor eyesight is related to the gene for superior intelligence? Heh!

@Dutchess_III: I do.

It seems I have an astigmatism and my sight was better than 20/20 until I was in my mid 30’s. I would bet you inheret astigmatism, but I don’t know for sure. When I finally went to the eye doctor because I knew my sight was changing, I got my first pair of glasses. When I wear the glass while sitting, having to read the tv, or at the theatre, they are fantastic, everything crisp and clear. But if I stand up to walk, the floor is in the wrong place, and if I look down while I walk I almost all over. I think that is because they correct for my astigmatism, corrects the depth, and my brain has already corrected the depth after many years of living my life I guess? They say if I wear the glasses every day I would adjust. But, my sight is only 20/40 now, some days still tests better than that, so I don’t need them generally.

I guess I oughta go and have a “nice” little talk with that optometrist of mine.

@JLeslie It only takes a couple of days to adjust…but no reason too since your eyes aren’t so bad!

@Winters Let me know what he says! Is your optometrist like, 100 years old?

@Dutchess_III I tried when I first got the glasses, because the doctor said the same thing, my brain would adjust fast. But, it wasn’t fast enough for me I guess.

It is disconcerting. I had my script changed every six months from the time I was in 4th grade. It was funky every time! Everything around the edges was all warped. BUT…I had absolutely no choice but to adjust so…I did. (It is kind of amazing how the eyes DO adjust. My dad told me that if you put on a pair of glasses that made everything upside down, within a few days your eyes would correct everything so it was right side up….)

@Dutchess_III If I remember to do so in the next three months, I will, He’s in Cali, I’m in New York for the next three months.