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Webster 1913 Edition


Astigmatism

A-stig′ma-tism

,
Noun.
[Gr.
priv. + [GREEK], [GREEK], a prick of a pointed instrument, a spot, fr. [GREEK] to prick: cf. F.
astigmatisme
.]
(Med. & Opt.)
A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point, thus causing imperfect images or indistinctness of vision.
☞ The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or clearly seen.

Definition 2024


astigmatism

astigmatism

English

Noun

astigmatism (plural astigmatisms)

  1. (optics) A defect of a lens such that light rays coming from a point do not meet at a focal point so that the image is blurred.
  2. (pathology) A disorder of the vision, usually due to a misshapen cornea, such that light does not focus correctly on the retina causing a blurred image.

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