Astigmatism is a refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of your eye) or the lens inside the eye. In a normal eye, the cornea is round like a basketball, allowing light to enter evenly and focus on the retina. However, in an eye with astigmatism, the cornea or lens is more oval, like a football, causing light to focus on multiple points instead of just one.
Causes of Astigmatism
Astigmatism can develop for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:
Irregular Corneal Shape
A cornea with an oval shape rather than a perfect sphere is the most prevalent cause of astigmatism. Because of its atypical form, light cannot be properly focused on the retina, causing eyesight to become distorted or hazy.
Genetics
Since astigmatism frequently runs in families, you may be more susceptible to developing it if your parents or siblings do. It can exist from birth and occasionally is not identified until much later in life.
Eye Injury or Surgery
Astigmatism can result from modifications in the shape of the cornea caused by eye trauma or some types of eye surgery, such as the excision of a cataract. Injuries that leave the cornea scarred may also be a factor in this illness.
Keratoconus
The eye disease known as keratoconus gradually thins and shapes the cornea into a cone. Treatment with more specialised methods may be necessary if this abnormality results in severe astigmatism.
Eye Strain and Fatigue
Even though eye strain isn’t the main cause of astigmatism, long-term screen time or bad eye care practices can make astigmatism-prone individuals’ vision issues worse.
How Can LASIK Help with Astigmatism?
For years, people with astigmatism believed they were not suitable candidates for LASIK. However, advancements in laser technology have made it possible to treat astigmatism effectively. Here’s how LASIK works to correct astigmatism:
Reshaping the Cornea
LASIK works by reshaping the cornea, and correcting the irregularities that cause astigmatism. During LASIK surgery, a highly precise laser is used to remove small amounts of corneal tissue to smooth out the irregular shape. The goal is to make the cornea more spherical so that light focuses evenly on the retina, resulting in clear, sharp vision.
Customized LASIK Treatments
Modern LASIK technology, such as Wavefront-guided or topography-guided LASIK (e.g., Contoura Vision), allows for even more personalized treatments. These advancements map out the unique shape of your eye, enabling the surgeon to correct your astigmatism with pinpoint accuracy. Customized LASIK procedures improve both the success rate and the quality of vision correction, offering better outcomes for patients with astigmatism.
Fast and Painless Procedure
LASIK surgery is a quick, outpatient procedure that usually takes about 15 minutes per eye. It is virtually painless, thanks to the use of numbing eye drops, and most patients experience improved vision within a day or two. Those with astigmatism often notice that their vision becomes significantly sharper almost immediately after the surgery.
Long-lasting Results
One of the greatest benefits of LASIK is that the results are typically long-lasting. Most patients with astigmatism can enjoy clear vision for many years following surgery, reducing or even eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.
If your astigmatism has been causing you to struggle with the hassle of glasses or contact lenses, LASIK could be able to give you the freedom of clear vision. As a result of recent developments in laser technology, astigmatism can now be permanently corrected with LASIK securely and reliably. Speak with a skilled LASIK surgeon to see if this ground-breaking operation can restore your ability to see well in the world.
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