Astigmatism is an eye condition in which the shape of the eye is abnormally curved. The cornea and lens of the eye should be smooth and evenly curved in all directions. An equally curved eye will properly refract light, allowing clear vision. Astigmatism is an irregular shape of the cornea or lens. Astigmatism means light does not hit the eye in such a way that it is properly focused on the retina and both distance and close range vision is affected. There are several treatment options for astigmatism, including LASIK eye surgery and PRK.
People who are nearsighted or farsighted may still have astigmatism. Symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision, eyestrain, headaches and squinting to see clearly, though these symptoms could also be caused by other refractive errors. Astigmatism is a condition that occurs early in life, and can be detected in a comprehensive eye exam.
Mild to moderate astigmatism is most commonly treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Astigmatism patients are no longer limited to rigid contact lenses or eyeglasses. Toric lenses, which are soft contact lenses can be used to correct vision in some instances of astigmatism.
There are several surgical options our eye surgeon may use to treat astigmatism, such as LASIK eye surgery, PRK, astigmatic keratotomy and limbal relaxing incisions. LASIK surgery to correct astigmatism involves a reshaping of the cornea to improve how the eye focuses light rays on the retina.
Astigmatism patients who also have cataracts and are planning to have cataract surgery have an additional option — an implantable lens that makes it possible to treat the cataract and correct the corneal astigmatism at the same time. This implantable lens is the new AcrySof® IQ Toric lens, which takes the most trusted platform for precise astigmatism correction and adds the enhanced image quality of an aspheric lens, taking the Toric IOL to a whole new level. The unique design of the AcrySof® Toric IOL makes it possible to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism and significantly improve uncorrected distance vision.
A consultation with your eye doctor is necessary to determine the best treatment options for astigmatism. Our eye doctors will recommend the option that is best for you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK eye surgery.
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