What is the main characteristic of astigmatism?

Astigmatism is primarily characterized by blurred vision resulting from unequal curvatures of the cornea or lens within the eye. This condition causes light rays to focus on multiple points rather than a single point on the retina, leading to distorted or blurred vision at both near and far distances. The unequal curvature disrupts the standard process of refraction, which is critical for clear vision. Understanding this characteristic is essential for diagnosing and treating astigmatism, as corrective lenses or surgical options often aim to address the discrepancies in curvature to restore clearer vision.