Which aspect of vision is primarily affected by astigmatism?

Astigmatism primarily affects the sharpness of vision due to the irregular curvature of the cornea or lens in the eye. This condition leads to light being focused at multiple points rather than a single point on the retina, causing blurred or distorted vision. When someone has astigmatism, objects may appear stretched or wavy, particularly at certain angles, which directly impacts clarity.

The other aspects of vision—color perception, peripheral vision, and depth perception—are typically not significantly affected by astigmatism. While these functions rely on the overall health of the eye and the visual system, astigmatism's specific influence is primarily on how clearly and sharply visual information is processed. Therefore, recognizing the distinction between astigmatism's impact on sharpness versus other aspects of vision is essential.