Can LASIK Treat Astigmatism?

If you are struggling with astigmatism, you may have the question, “Can LASIK fix astigmatism”. Well, there is good news for you. Studies show that LASIK is an effective solution for correcting vision in case of low to moderate astigmatism. This means that if you are in the same range of astigmatism, this treatment can help you too, and bring a new level of clarity to your everyday life.

In this blog post, we will discuss in detail how LASIK addresses astigmatism.

Before that, let’s take a look at what astigmatism is.

What Is Astigmatism?

The human eye has a clear and curved front surface, known as the cornea, and a transparent structure behind it, which we generally call the lens. If the cornea or lens has an irregular shape or is curved more in one direction than the other, a refractive error occurs, causing a vision issue. This condition is known as astigmatism.

If this condition happens because of the irregular shape of the cornea, it is known as corneal astigmatism. On the other hand, if that happens because of lens misshapen, it is called lenticular astigmatism.

Remember, it can affect you at any age, and you can correct it with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Common symptoms of this vision issue include blurred or distorted vision, eye strain, headache, or poor night vision. Though this condition is hereditary, it can also develop after an eye injury, eye surgery, or other eye disease.

Can LASIK Fix Astigmatism?

To be very precise, LASIK can cure astigmatism. Though it does not eradicate the problem, it is a long-term solution. LASIK surgery works by changing the shape of the cornea with a laser. It transforms the cornea into a more rounded form. This helps to focus light more on the retina, thus improving your vision. Once the cornea is altered, your eye surgeon will close the flap, and your incision will heal over time.

This procedure lasts about 30 minutes. You remain awake during it, but your doctor may give you sedative medications to keep you relaxed. According to a study, almost 90% of patients with astigmatism get 20/25 vision after the procedure. This vision eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses and helps you perform daily life activities better.

What Are Different Methods of LASIK Eye Surgery for Astigmatism?

There are different methods to treat astigmatism with LASIK. Let’s throw light on them:

• Traditional LASIK

This is the most common method of LASIK and has the highest success rate. In this method, your eye surgeon uses a microkeratome to create a flap in your cornea. They lift the flap to reshape the underlying cornea with a laser, and the flap is repositioned. This traditional technique can treat many different cases of astigmatism.

• Femtosecond LASIK

In this method, doctors use a femtosecond laser to create flaps in the cornea instead of a microkeratome. This creates a more precise and customized corneal flap. Though this method can also treat different types of astigmatism, it is mostly used for patients with thinner corneas.

• Wave-Front Guided LASIK

For patients with complex astigmatism, this method is the most suitable one. It uses advanced wavefront technology to get a detailed map of the eye’s surface. This is how doctors customize the LASIK treatment according to the individual imperfections of a person.

What Types of Astigmatism Can Not Be Fixed with LASIK?

Generally, people who are ideal candidates for LASIK can also proceed with astigmatism. However, there are rare cases where LASIK is ineffective in curing astigmatism.

• High Degrees of Astigmatism

If you suffer from significantly high astigmatism i.e. greater than 4.00 diopters, it is very challenging to correct with LASIK. In such cases, other surgical options like toric intraocular lenses are recommended.

• Post-Surgical Astigmatism

If you develop astigmatism after previous eye surgeries like cataract surgery or any other, it becomes difficult to correct it with LASIK. For such cases, you should go through additional corneal surgeries to get rid of this condition.

• Unstable Vision

If your vision is unstable, you can not treat astigmatism directly. In fact, first, you should focus on stabilizing your vision, and then you can have LASIK for astigmatism.

So, if you suffer from any of these critical astigmatism conditions, you should always choose the best alternative treatments according to your specific visual needs.

How Long Does It Take to Recover after Getting LASIK for Astigmatism?

Though some people notice an improvement in their vision within the first week of LASIK, your eyes generally take three to six months to recover fully. During this period, you should avoid all activities that strain your eyes and continue using artificial tears. Moreover, be regular with all your follow-up appointments and meet your eye surgeon in a timely manner to learn about the progress of your healing process.

Conclusion

To conclude, you must be aware now that LASIK can fix astigmatism. Undoubtedly, it is a highly effective solution that reduces your dependency on contact lenses and glasses. It cures a wide range of astigmatism, but there are some severe cases in which you need alternative treatments to deal with this vision issue. So, it is always better to go for a thorough evaluation by a well-reputed eye care center, such as Cedar Park Vision, to get the best advice and treatment.