cylindrical eyes

It sounds like you’re describing issues related to astigmatism, which is indeed linked to the term ‘cylindrical eyes’. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape—it’s not perfectly round, which causes light to focus unevenly on the retina, leading to blurred or distorted vision. It’s quite common and it can vary in severity. You’re right in suspecting that screen use might be exacerbating your symptoms, causing eye strain, but it’s important to note that the underlying astigmatism is a structural issue with your eye that typically isn’t caused by lifestyle factors like screen time. Instead, it may be something you’ve had for a while but are only now noticing more.

Since you’ve already seen an optometrist and they’ve picked up on your corneal shape, it’s likely they’ve already checked for astigmatism. If they haven’t delved deeply into it, or if you didn’t get a prescription, I would recommend scheduling another appointment. Glasses or contact lenses are the most common way to correct astigmatism and can improve your symptoms significantly. These lenses are specifically designed to counteract the uneven curvature of the cornea and allow light to focus properly on the retina. In some cases, refractive surgery like LASIK could be considered, but typically glasses or contacts are the first step.

It’s definitely worth addressing because uncorrected astigmatism not only causes discomfort but can also affect your quality of life by straining your eyes or causing headaches. Although mild astigmatism can remain stable for many years, certain factors can lead to changes, so regular eye exams are wise. If you notice any new symptoms like eye pain, severe sensitivity to light, or rapid changes in vision, you should seek immediate medical attention to rule out other potential issues. But otherwise, with appropriate corrective lenses and routine follow-ups, managing astigmatism doesn’t need to be worrisome.