Astigmatism and Lasik Surgery

Astigmatism is a condition of vision which causes light entering the eye to be blurred, which in turn prevents the eye from focusing properly. Astigmatisms can have several different causes including an irregularly shaped cornea or poorly curved lens of the eye.

There are two different types of Astigmatism: regular and irregular. Regular astigmatism is caused by light being out of focus in a regular pattern. This can be caused by the improper curve of the cornea or lens. This can be compared to wearing a pair of glasses that are of the wrong prescription. The light is blurred in a somewhat consistent pattern. Irregular astigmatism is caused by light being distorted in an irregular pattern. This has been described as being similar to wearing glasses that may be the correct prescription, but have scratches in the glass. This causes an irregular pattern of distortion.

 

Astigmatisms are a very common condition, and in fact most people have some degree of astigmatism; though most of these cases are not severe enough to require correction. For those who do have more severe astigmatisms it is important that they seek help in correcting this condition. There are several ways in which to correct astigmatism, including corrective glasses, contact lenses and Lasik eye surgery.

 

Lasik eye surgery is a procedure performed by an ophthalmologist in which a laser is used to reshape the surface of the cornea, which thereby corrects existing vision problems. This is done in three steps.

 

First, the patient is given a mild sedative and a tiny metal blade is used to create a flap on the surface of the eye which is then folded back. This allows for access to the inner portion of the cornea.

 

For additional information or to schedule a Glaucoma Test, please contact us at (866) 861-3937.

 

Second, a laser is used to reshape the cornea by vaporizing tiny points of tissue in a controlled manner until the desired shape is achieved. This adjusts how the light is focused within the eye.

 

And third, the flap is returned into position to allow quicker healing of the eye. This is an improvement over past procedures in which the flap was removed. It took much longer for the eye to heal using previous methods.

 

Lasik surgery can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness as well as regular astigmatism. Currently this procedure is unable to treat irregular astigmatism. The causes of irregular astigmatisms are usually too complex and varied to be corrected in this manner.

 

Lasik eye surgery does carry certain risks. Some patients experience double vision or a loss of night vision. In some extreme cases patients have lost sight entirely due to extreme swelling during the healing process. The first Lasik eye surgery was, however, performed almost 20 years ago and each year that passes sees an improvement to the procedure. These improvements help to reduce the risks involved with Lasik, making it a better option for those in need of vision correction.