Dawaa Reference

Clinical reference

Astigmatism

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources3 sources

ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class FD69.00 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Subjective Refraction Technique: Astigmatic Dial - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589695/

Verified against2 documents
  • No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
  • Astigmatism - disease-level clinical article (astigmatism-clinical.txt)

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (3)

  • Eye-strain type symptoms: headache, eye ache, heaviness and trouble focusing [eye pain · headache · inattention]
  • Blurred and reduced vision, with objects appearing stretched or elongated [blurred vision]
  • Tendency to hold reading material very close to the eyes

Signs — what you find (3)

  • Slit-lamp exam looks for lid or corneal problems behind the astigmatism, such as keratoconus or a corneal scar [scarring]
  • Lens exam checks for sclerotic change, subluxation, dislocation or traumatic cataract
  • Dilated fundus exam looks for a tilted optic disc or an obliquely placed macula

Tests (5)

  • Visual acuity testing (Snellen or E-chart), recording uncorrected, best-corrected and pinhole vision
  • Retinoscopy identifies the axis and magnitude of the astigmatism and its reflex pattern
  • Keratometry or corneal topography shows differing curvature along two axes
  • Pachymetry measures corneal thickness to help plan refractive surgery
  • Astigmatic fan test and Jackson cross cylinder confirm the axis and power of correction needed

If not this — what else fits (1)

  • Other refractive errors: short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or age-related loss of near focus

SourceStatPearls "Astigmatism" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

1

NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (RECOGNITION & REFERRAL)

1st line
Adult dose and duration

A refractive error causing blurred vision from uneven corneal/lens curvature. Universally common. There is nothing to prescribe; management is corrective lenses or refractive surgery, so the GP's role is recognising it and referring to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. - Refer

Paediatric dose

Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is implied.

Dose source

No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care

Why

A refractive error causing blurred vision from uneven corneal/lens curvature. Universally common. There is nothing to prescribe; management is corrective lenses or refractive surgery, so the GP's role is recognising it and referring to an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Cautions
  • RED FLAG - Rapidly progressive astigmatism in a young patient (suspected keratoconus): assess urgently and refer.
  • No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to.
  • RED FLAG - Untreated astigmatism in childhood can cause permanent, irreversible vision loss (amblyopia), which makes prompt referral considerably more urgent in a child than in an adult.
  • RED FLAG - A sudden change in vision, or eye pain or redness accompanying the visual complaint (which suggests a separate diagnosis): assess urgently and refer.

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.