Yes, if your astigmatism is 0.5, you do need glasses. Astigmatism is an eye condition that causes blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea. When astigmatism is 0.5 or greater, it can cause significant nearsightedness or farsightedness and can be corrected with glasses.
Glasses are the most common and effective way to correct astigmatism. A prescription for glasses will be tailored to your individual astigmatism, taking into account the amount of astigmatism you have (in this case, 0.5) as well as the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Your optometrist will also take into account any other vision problems you may have, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, so that the glasses can provide optimal vision correction.
The lenses of your glasses will be designed to correct your astigmatism, which can help reduce visual distortion and make it easier to see clearly. Depending on your individual needs, your optometrist may recommend single-vision lenses or more specialized lenses, such as toric lenses, which are designed specifically to correct astigmatism.
In addition to glasses, there are other treatments available for astigmatism, such as contact lenses and refractive surgery. However, glasses are often the most cost-effective and convenient way to correct astigmatism, particularly for mild cases like 0.5.