Can Laser Eye Surgery Correct Your Astigmatism?
Some people with astigmatism believe that laser eye surgery cannot correct their eye defect. This may be due to the previous misconceptions about laser vision correction. For years, laser eye surgery for astigmatism has been a viable treatment option to correct this eye defect and several others.
What is the cause of astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common eye defect characterised by a refractive error due to the presence of a double curvature in the cornea (front part of the eye). For a person without astigmatism, the eye is round like a football, and this shape allows light to enter the eye in a single focus or ray to meet one point at the back of the eye (retina). When the light gets to this sensitive tissue, it produces a clear image.
However, in the case of astigmatism, the eye has the shape of a rugby ball. This shape allows the entrance of light at two points. The effect of this is more than one focus on the retina, which lead to fuzzy or blurred vision.
The prevalence of astigmatism is high, with most persons having a small degree of astigmatism. People with mild astigmatism do not have any significant change in their vision, so correction may not be necessary. However, when the degree of astigmatism is high, and it causes distorted or blurred vision, you may need to undergo a procedure for correction.
Most times, astigmatism occurs alongside long-sightedness (hyper myopia), or short sightedness (myopia).
How can I detect astigmatism?
If you have astigmatism, you will experience blurred short, intermediate and distant vision. You may likely experience fatigue after you read, eyestrain, headaches and squinting. Having these symptoms requires you to visit an optometrist for an eye exam and proper diagnosis.
How can I correct astigmatism?
If you have astigmatism, you can correct it with any of these three options.
- Glasses
- Laser eye surgery
- Contact lenses
You can get prescription glasses to correct your astigmatism. The glasses can also correct your long or short-sightedness.
Alternatively, you may opt for laser eye surgery to correct your astigmatism. There are three types of laser eye surgery for correcting astigmatism, and they include:
- SMILE
- LASIK
- ASLA
If you have myopia, you can correct it alongside astigmatism during any of these laser eye surgery.
How does laser eye surgery correct astigmatism?
Laser eye surgery to correct astigmatism involves the surgeon using a laser to remove a small part of the cornea. This helps to correct the curvature in the cornea that makes light enter the eye at two points. The laser eye surgery aims to shape the eye, removing the part that makes it look like a rugby ball, and the result of this is an eye-shaped like a football to allow light enter the eye from one point to form a clear vision.
Is laser eye surgery suitable for everyone with astigmatism?
Most persons with astigmatism are suitable for correction with laser eye surgery. If you meet the criteria for laser eye surgery, you can undergo the procedure to correct your bad vision. People with irregular or very high refractive error (glasses prescription) may not be able to undergo laser eye surgery.
Before you can undergo laser eye surgery for astigmatism, your eye surgeon will thoroughly examine your eye to determine whether or not you are the right candidate for laser eye surgery. The surgeon may recommend another treatment option for you if you cannot undergo laser eye surgery. If you are suitable for laser eye surgery, the surgeon will recommend the best type for you, depending on your lifestyle, thickness of your cornea, and health.
If you are above 55 years, and you have astigmatism, lens exchange surgery may be the best treatment option for you.
During a lens exchange surgery, the surgeon will remove the natural lens of the eye and replace it with artificial lenses liketoric lenses.
How safe is laser eye surgery?
A lot of persons with astigmatism have successfully undergone laser surgery to correct their eye defect. Several studies have shown that the different laser eye surgical procedures are effective in correcting astigmatism and have a low-risk, especially for people with low refractive error.
To find out if you are the right candidate for laser eye surgery to correct your astigmatism, visit Optimal Vision today to book an appointment for your consultation. You can get special offers for laser eye surgery in London to correct your astigmatism and other eye defects.