Astigmatism And LASIK Eye Surgery

How do astigmatism and LASIK surgery go together?

It used to be that the only treatment for astigmatism was eyeglasses.

Thanks to medical advancements, not only can people suffering from astigmatism wear contact lenses, but can turn to LASIK surgery to correct their condition.

Before you decide that LASIK surgery is the best option for you, there are a few things you should think about.

You should also be sure to look at all your options. Yes, LASIK surgery is one solution for astigmatism, but toric contact lenses, which are specially designed for people with astigmatism, can be an equally effective treatment.

Even wearing eyeglasses might be a better solution for you. And using contact lenses or wearing eyeglasses is much less invasive.

What To Consider

Your first step should always be visiting your eye doctor. An eye exam can evaluate how severe your astigmatism is, and your eye doctor can make a recommendation for the best solution for you.

If you're interested in LASIK surgery for astigmatism correction, be sure to get your eye doctor's opinion.

Your condition may be so minor that no special treatment is needed, and your doctor can determine this.

After speaking with your regular eye doctor, it's also a good idea to speak with a LASIK surgeon who has experience in working with patients who have astigmatism.

He or she can give you added insight, and further help you determine whether or not it's the best option for your condition.

Before making a final decision, be sure you've weighed all the aspects of having LASIK surgery.

This includes considering:

• your recovery time,
• the cost of the surgery,
• and anything else that might be involved before, during, and after the procedure.

Your eye doctor and a LASIK surgeon can make sure you know everything that's going to be involved.

Astigmatism And LASIK Procedure

LASIK surgery corrects this condition in the way the laser is used to change the shape of the cornea.

To correct myopia (nearsightedness), for example, the laser flattens the cornea.

For astigmatism correction, the pattern of the laser beam is changed, and more corneal tissue is removed from one side than the other to make the cornea more spherical again.

A diagnosis of astigmatism doesn't necessarily mean you'll need to wear eyeglasses for the rest of your life. Though it's important to look at all your treatment options, and weigh all the pros and cons carefully before making a decision, LASIK surgery may be a good solution for you, eliminating your astigmatism, and correcting your vision.



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