Astigmatism is a common condition that occurs when the lens or cornea (the front surface of the eye) has mismatched curves. According to the Mayo Clinic, this causes blurry or blurred vision at all distances.
This refractive error affects 1 in every 3 individuals and can be congenital or can develop later in life as a result of factors like eye injuries or surgery.
Fortunately, most cases of astigmatism can be treated with corrective lenses or surgery.
The following individuals have had to struggle with the condition before getting the right contact lenses and surgeries.
Despite the struggle, they have managed to thrive in their fields by finding a way to manage the condition.
1. Angie Yeo
Yeo is a popular yoga enthusiast who uses yoga to enhance various aspects of her life including dealing with astigmatism. This condition causes headaches and always makes it hard for her to concentrate, but with yoga , she has been able to sharpen her focus. She also wears ACUVUE Oasys 1-Day lenses which guarantee that she has a comfortable, stable, and sharp vision all day long. These lenses also protect her eyes from the effects of the UV rays.
2. Steph Curry
Curry was born with keratoconus, a common condition that forced him to squint his eyes when focusing. Squinting was normal for him and he even played basketball with the condition. The cornea of people with this condition tends to get thinner and cone shaped with time. After correcting his condition, Steph’s game has improved leaving him with a 48% shot average.
3. Gabriel Vasconcelos Ferreira
Gabriel is a popular Brazilian goalkeeper who has played for Cagliari and AC Milan. He was born with myopic astigmatism. The goalkeeper used contact lenses when playing; unfortunately, they moved when he played, making it hard for him to focus. So he underwent a refractive surgery that corrected his condition, which made it easy for him to play without wearing contact lenses.
4. Sam Rolph
Rolph was born with high hyperopia-prescription with astigmatism which made it impossible for him to focus on things up close. Therefore, he used to wear corrective eye wear every day and some sports goggles when playing football. Everything changed when Dr. Parth Shah introduced him to contact glasses that he now wears when playing.
5. Cienna
Unlike the other people in our list, having astigmatism saved Cienna’s life. Since she had an eye rating of 20/40 while young, her mum took her to an optometrist who discovered glitter in her eyes. She was unsure so after further consultation and tests, the doctors discovered that she had cystinosis. According to Cleveland Clinic, this condition results in the accumulation of cysteine in our cells forming crystals that can affect various organs including your eyes and kidneys. Currently, she is taking medication after every 6 hours and some eye drops.
6. Sean Smole
Smole was born a healthy child, but he had slight astigmatism that forced him to wear glasses since he was 2 years old. A few months later, he was diagnosed with coats’ disease that blinded his right eye. The disease is caused by blood vessels leaking behind the retina. He underwent a few procedures that helped him regain his sight.
7. Oh Qian Yi
Yi was born with astigmatism and myopia which made it hard for him to operate for years. He couldn’t even see anything past his arm’s length clearly. He even had issues focusing on lights when it was dark and had to wear some contact lenses which left him with a slight headache. He suffered for 20 years before being introduced to ACUVUE® Oasys® 1-Day lenses which changed his life.
8. Doug, a TikToker
@catsupwithdoug PSA: Take out your #contactlenses every evening and replace them at the recommended intervals. #storytime #fyp #catsupwithdoug ♬ original sound – Catsup with Doug
Doug became popular after sharing how he got astigmatism in a video that garnered over 400,000 likes. In the video, he said that he wore his contacts for 3 years leaving him with some buildup in his eyelids. He even slept with the lenses between 2012 and 2015.
Also Check: 9 Famous Black Actors with Lazy Eye
Astigmatism may present challenges such as blurred vision, squinting, eyestrains, and eye discomforts but the stories of these celebrities show us that it’s possible to overcome them and pursue our passions. For instance, despite having to squint or rely on corrective lenses, individuals like Steph Curry demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. With the help of corrective surgery, their abilities flourished, as evidenced by Curry’s successful career. Let these stories inspire you to take proactive steps in managing your astigmatism and continue thriving in your pursuits.
