Final answer:
Astigmatism is the medical term for a curvature of the cornea or lens. It can be corrected with cylindrical corrective lenses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical term for a curvature of the cornea or lens is astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye is irregularly shaped, causing light to be focused at multiple points on the retina instead of a single point. This results in distorted and blurred vision.
Astigmatism can be corrected with the use of cylindrical corrective lenses that neutralize the distorted focus of light entering the eye. These lenses have different curvatures in different meridians to compensate for the irregularity in the cornea or lens. They help to bring the focus of the light onto a single point on the retina, improving vision clarity.
It's important to note that astigmatism can coexist with other vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).