Uses of Eye Laser Surgery In Astigmatism

Article Written By: Kathryn Dawson

Astigmatism is one type of refractive error that occurs in almost everybody in different degrees. It usually occurs with short sightedness or long sightedness. Often, it is hereditary and present at birth. It may go unnoticed for several years and ones can experience headaches, eye strain, and blurred vision. People have problems seeing objects both up close and at a distance.

Sometimes, there can be streaks or rays around point sources of light. In people with higher degrees of astigmatism, there may be smearing or shadowing of letters. Some people can also experience double vision.

A quick visit to the eye doctor will help determine the presence of astigmatism and to what degree. Especially for adults over the age of 40, the eyes should be examined every one to two years. This enables the eye doctor to monitor visual acuity and note any eye diseases that might be developing along with the refractive error.

Astigmatism can be easily corrected by wearing corrective lenses to counteract the uneven curvature of the eye. Rigid contact lenses or night time lenses can also be used to correct the curvature of the eye. These may be worn for a number of hours a day until the curvature improves. The more modern soft toric lenses are also used to correct astigmatism but can only work well for those with mild astigmatism. There are some disadvantages to corrective eyewear. The use of eyeglasses can be troublesome for others and wearing contact lenses for extended periods of time increases the risk for eye infection.

The process of laser surgery is a viable option for those who want freedom from corrective lenses. This is the only treatment that actually cures astigmatism. Just like vision correction for short sightedness and long sightedness, laser methods have proven to be highly effective in dealing with astigmatism. Moreover, if astigmatism accompanies other refractive disorders like myopia or hyperopia, laser eye surgery is the most excellent choice.

Active people who are involved in sports or water activities may have problems with wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses. In this group, surgical correction offers a permanent solution. Because of the advances in surgical techniques and increased safety of the procedure, even patients with milder degrees can now be treated using lasers. Although it is more difficult to treat astigmatism than the regular short sightedness or long sightedness, it is still feasible to correct it with laser surgery.

There are various types of eye laser surgery for astigmatism and one of the most popular procedures is LASIK surgery. This is a quick, convenient, and very successful method. It is an outpatient procedure which means the patient does not need to stay in the hospital overnight. The surgery has very little complications, if any, and very low post operative discomfort.

During a typical laser operation, the eye surgeon cuts into the cornea or the transparent front portion of the eye. The top thin flap is then lightly folded back to reach the middle layers of the cornea. Laser light is then used to gently reshape the cornea to a more normal spherical or rounded shape. By decreasing the sharp curve, this enables the eye to focus light rays better, resulting in clearer vision. After surgery, antibiotic drops are instilled for a few weeks to prevent eye infection. Within a month or so, vision will remarkably improve.

At present, many patients, especially the older age group have turned to eye laser surgery to improve visual acuity. This has also paved the way for a more comfortable and eyewear free life. Although LASIK is the most popular and widely used procedure to treat refractive disorders including astigmatism, other types of eye laser surgery are also available.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson - what eye laser surgery can do for you if you have astigmatism, a refraction error of the eye.

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