Q: I am suffering from astigmatism and the power of my eye is about 4.75 with 105 degree rotation (this is all that I could infer from what the doctors told me). Does this power imply 40 percent permanent visual impairment? I also wanted to know what does 6/9 or 6/12 mean in medical terms with respect to eye defects.

A:Astigmatism is not a disease but an optical condition of the cornea, the curvatures of which differ in different axes. 4.75 is a moderate power. If the vision improves to 6/9 or 6/12 you dont need to worry. 6/6 is full vision. 6/9 means that an object which a normal eye can see at 9 meters, is not being seen until you go closer to 6 meters. That means the distance vision is slightly lesser. 6/12 is slightly lesser vision than 6/9. Please check if you have a condition called Keratoconus. In this condition, the astigmatism keeps on increasing, and the cornea becomes ectatic. A test called Topography and Keratoconus software can detect early disease. A good doctor can recognise it quickly. You don't need to worry about your eyes if you dont have Keratoconus and if your eye is healthy, as certified by an eye specialist. After the age of 18 yrs, & if the power is stable, you can undergo advanced Lasik, which will permanently relieve you of your power.