What term is used to describe the degree of astigmatism?

The term that accurately describes the degree of astigmatism is associated with Cylinder Power. In the context of eyeglass prescriptions, astigmatism is represented by the cylinder measurement, which indicates how much correction is needed for the distorted or blurred vision caused by the irregular shape of the cornea or lens.

Cylinder Power specifically quantifies the amount of astigmatism and is critical in determining the lens curvature required to correct this condition. Alongside the Cylinder Power, an Axis measurement is also noted, which indicates the orientation of the cylinder in degrees. Therefore, while Axis is important for describing the orientation of the astigmatism, it is the Cylinder Power that directly measures the degree of astigmatism itself.

Consequently, in the provided choices, the term Cylinder Power is the most appropriate to describe the degree of astigmatism.