Astigmatism can occur in children and adults. Your risk of developing astigmatism may be higher if you have any of the following:
a family history of astigmatism or other eye disorders, such as keratoconus (a degeneration of the cornea)
scarring or thinning of the cornea
excessive nearsightedness (blurry vision at a distance) or farsightedness (blurry close-up vision)
a history of certain types of eye surgery, such as cataract surgery (surgical removal of a clouded lens)
your risk of developing astigmatism may be increased if your mother smoked when she was pregnant with you, according to a study published in the October 2011 issue of Ophthalmology