Which eye condition can be corrected by wearing glasses with a cylindrical lens?

Wearing glasses with a cylindrical lens is specifically designed to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is an eye condition that occurs due to an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, resulting in blurred or distorted vision at various distances. Cylindrical lenses have different optical power in different meridians, allowing them to effectively address the uneven curvature of the eye that characterizes this condition. By compensating for the specific angles at which light enters the eye, cylindrical lenses help to properly focus light onto the retina, leading to clearer vision.

In comparison, hyperopia (farsightedness) is typically corrected with spherical lenses that help converge light rays for distant vision, while presbyopia, an age-related condition, is usually corrected with bifocal or multifocal lenses rather than cylindrical lenses. Cataracts involve clouding of the lens of the eye and require surgical intervention rather than glasses for correction. Thus, the use of cylindrical lenses is uniquely suited for astigmatism, distinguishing it from the correction methods applicable to the other stated conditions.