Astigmatism is a common eye condition that affects the curvature of the eye, causing blurred vision. It can usually be treated successfully with either corrective lenses or refractive surgery. Lasik eye surgery is an effective type of laser-assisted refractive surgery that can be used to treat astigmatism along with other common vision problems such as near and farsightedness.
What Is Astigmatism?
Eyes without astigmatism typically have an evenly rounded surface like a basketball, but with an astigmatism, it causes a misshapen bend to the surface, causing it to be more oval or egg-shaped. This creates focusing problems in your retina and may cause objects in your sight line to be blurry, because the eye is unable to focus light properly. Astigmatism is often accompanied with other refractive eye conditions such as myopia (near-sightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). The condition can affect both adults and children and may get better or worse over time.
Not everyone experiences symptoms with astigmatism, but the condition can include the following signs:
- Blurry vision that may be worse at night
- Needing to squint to see better
- Eye pain
- Headaches
Astigmatism can usually be treated successfully with either corrective lenses or refractive surgery, which aims to improve vision and reduce the need for eye glasses or contact lenses.
Lasik Eye Surgery for Astigmatism
Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (Lasik) surgery is a type of procedure used to treat refractive eye conditions. It is a quick outpatient procedure that takes only a few minutes to perform on each eye. It involves using a laser to reshape the cornea (the clear, protective outer layer of the eye) and correct the vision problem. For astigmatism, Lasik works to smooth the curve and make it more equally round.
To prepare for the procedure, numbing eye drops are given prior to Lasik eye surgery to keep you comfortable. If necessary, medication can also be requested to help you relax.
The procedure involves your doctor using a fast specialized laser to make a thin, hinged flap in the cornea. Then, to correct the astigmatism, a second high precision (excimer) laser is used to reshape the cornea to the desired curvature, based on the measurements and information collected from a preoperative 3D eye map scan. You may also receive correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness, depending on your exact requirements, which can involve flattening or steepening the cornea to improve vision.
Once the cornea has been corrected, your doctor will reposition and close the corneal flap and the procedure is complete. The incision will then heal over time.
Lasik eye surgery requires little down-time, and in many cases, you can return to work the following day. It may take 3-6 months for vision to fully stabilize, but in a majority of cases, the outcome is highly successful, with an estimated 96% of patients experiencing 20/20 vision or better following the procedure.
Am I Candidate for Lasik?
Lasik is a safe, quick, and highly-effective type of laser eye surgery and is the most common elective vision procedure in the U.S. Treatment is personalized for your eyes and your exact requirements, and can be used to treat a variety of conditions including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
If you have a vision problem, such as astigmatism, your eye doctor can perform a thorough preoperative eye examination and review your medical history to check if you are a good candidate for the procedure. During your preoperative eye examination, your doctor will carry out an ultra-precise scan to provide a detailed 3D map of your eye(s). This provides accurate details about your vision and creates a correction plan that is personalized to your eyes.
Your eye doctor will discuss realistic expectations with you and help you to decide if Lasik surgery is right for you.
Lasik for Astigmatism in Miami, Florida
If you would like to find out more about how Lasik eye surgery can help correct vision problems such as astigmatism, contact The Laser Center of Coral Gables. Our expert providers can evaluate your condition and advise you whether you are a candidate for Lasik, or another type of eye surgery.
To learn more, call or text us at 305-461-0003, or you can contact us online.
