Can LASIK Surgery Correct Astigmatism?

Nearsightedness is when your vision is sharp at close range. Farsightedness is when faraway objects are in focus. So, why is your vision blurry all the time, regardless of distance?

Astigmatism distorts your vision at all distances. Objects are fuzzy when they’re close and when they’re far away. Depending on its severity, it can have profound negative effects on your lifestyle.

In mild cases, this eye condition is often treated with prescription glasses or special contact lenses. Severe astigmatism, on the other hand, can be treated safely and effectively with laser vision correction, like LASIK.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common eye condition, resulting in blurred or distorted vision at both near and distant ranges. It’s known as a refractive error because it affects how light enters the eye and forms images on the retina.

This condition is extremely common and does not always require treatment. Those with mild astigmatism, for instance, tend not to experience significant vision changes. If your vision is greatly blurred or distorted at all distances, though, you should consider astigmatism correction. Astigmatism does not improve on its own and can get worse over time.

What causes astigmatism? 

A normal eye is round like a baseball. The cornea (the transparent surface of the eye) is curved equally on the horizontal and vertical axes. As a result, entering light hits the retina as a single, focused point. This produces clear vision.

In eyes with astigmatism, the cornea is shaped more like a football. It has two curves: one steep, and one flat. Because of this irregular, oblong shape, light enters the eye at multiple points. The light, consequently, does not focus on a singular location on the retina. This results in fuzzy or distorted vision.

Astigmatism is usually inherited from your parents, meaning most people are born with it. It’s often accompanied by other refractive errors, like myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). In rare cases, however, astigmatism can develop after an injury or ocular disease.

How do I know if I have astigmatism?

The main sign of astigmatism is fuzzy vision at all distances. In some cases, you may see “ghosting” or “double vision”, too. People with astigmatism can also experience headaches, squinting, eye fatigue, eyestrain, and headaches. Reading and viewing screens can be uncomfortable. 

How is astigmatism diagnosed?

An optometrist can easily diagnose astigmatism during a routine eye exam. They measure the curvature of your cornea to detect any irregularities. During this exam, your eye doctor can also recommend treatment for your astigmatism, like LASIK surgery. Before recommending LASIK, they also consider your family history, lifestyle, and if you have any scarring or thinning of your cornea.

Can astigmatism be corrected?

Yes! First, speak to your optometrist to see if they recommend correction for your astigmatism. Minor to mild cases often do not require correction. Eyes, like all parts of the body, naturally vary slightly from person to person.

When correction is deemed beneficial, there are three options: glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery.

Prescription eyeglasses and special contact lenses are commonly used to correct astigmatism. However, there are several drawbacks. First, glasses and contacts do not fix the problem permanently. You still experience distorted vision whenever you remove your glasses or contacts. Moreover, your vision can still be distorted towards the edges of the lenses even when you are wearing them.

Laser eye surgery, on the other hand, is an effective way of treating astigmatism. With LASIK, you can dramatically improve the quality of your vision with long-lasting results.

LASIK Surgery for Astigmatism

There are several laser eye surgeries that can treat astigmatism. For example, ReLex SMILE, Custom PRK, and Custom Bladeless LASIK surgery.

LASIK surgery for astigmatism corrects this condition by reshaping the cornea. Using advanced laser technology, the steeper curve of the cornea is reduced and flattened. This decreases the cornea’s oblong shape to create a more spherical form. Essentially, it turns your cornea from a football back into a soccer ball.

What happens during laser eye surgery for astigmatism?

LASIK and similar procedures use advanced lasers to reshape the eye. After eye-numbing drops are administered, your surgeon uses a special type of laser to create a very small flap in your cornea. They then use that flap to reshape the cornea before placing the flap back into its original position.

At Clearview Vision Institute, we offer Custom Bladeless LASIK, which creates a thinner corneal flap without a blade. We can also customize the flap size and other variables for a more personalized approach to vision care that addresses your unique needs.

LASIK surgery for astigmatism is perfectly safe and has a very high success rate. Also, the procedure only takes about 30 minutes, but has lasting effects. It completely fixes the source of your astigmatism—the irregular eye shape. You’ll enjoy better vision quality for life.

Am I a candidate for LASIK surgery?

Before you can have surgery to fix your astigmatism, we first need to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure and if LASIK would significantly improve your vision.

During your LASIK consultation, we assess the degree of your astigmatism, medical history, prescription medication, and overall health. 

Good candidates for LASIK should:

• Be 18 years old or older.
• Have healthy corneas (which are thick enough for surgery).
• Have good overall eye health.
• Have a stable eye prescription that has not changed much recently.

You are likely not a good candidate for LASIK if you have:

• Unstable eye prescriptions.
• Extreme nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
• Thin corneas.
• Corneal scarring, bulging, or a corneal disease.
• Severe dry eye.
• Advanced glaucoma.
• Cataracts.
• A history of eye infections.

An ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) or optometrist (eye doctor) will also conduct a comprehensive eye exam to assess your astigmatism. This exam includes the following:

• A visual acuity assessment test determines how well you can read letters on a chart from a specific distance.
• A refraction test measures how the light entering your eyes bends and where it lands on your retina.
• Keratometry is a device that measures the curvature of your cornea.

Astigmatism Treatment From Clearview Vision Institute in Toronto

Clearview Vision Institute offers laser eye surgery for astigmatism. Specifically, our highly trained laser eye surgeons use ReLEx SMILE, Custom PRK, and Custom Bladeless LASIK surgery to cure astigmatism permanently.

Our clinic is a global leader in advanced vision correction procedures. In fact, we were the first to introduce these revolutionary treatments for astigmatism in Canada.

The Clearview Vision Institute team, led by Dr. Kranemann, is renowned for highly successful LASIK procedures in a warm and welcoming environment. We take pride in offering cutting-edge procedures using state-of-the-art equipment.

To request more information on astigmatism and laser eye surgery, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.