What condition might require prescription eyewear to manage visual symptoms?

Astigmatism is a refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea or lens within the eye. This irregular shape prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, resulting in blurred or distorted vision. People with astigmatism may experience headaches, eye strain, and difficulty seeing clearly at various distances. To correct these visual symptoms, prescription eyewear, such as glasses or contact lenses, is often required. These corrective lenses are designed to alter the way light enters the eye, ensuring that it focuses correctly on the retina and improving the individual's vision.

In contrast, high blood pressure, bone density loss, and skin allergies do not directly impact how the eyes focus light or manage visual clarity. While these conditions might have overall health implications or complications, they do not typically necessitate the use of corrective lenses to alleviate visual symptoms the way astigmatism does.