Can You Get LASIK for Astigmatism?

Yes! Astigmatism is a refractive eye condition that results in blurred vision. People who develop astigmatism have a cornea with an irregular curvature, like an oval shape, which is why blurred vision results. Since the cornea focuses light into the eye, the cornea of a person with astigmatism doesn’t refract the light properly, thereby sending a skewed image to the retina, which in turn sends that image to the brain. LASIK surgery can help to fix this problem by reshaping the cornea so it becomes more spherical by removing small amounts of tissue that cause the cornea to be shaped irregularly through the use of a laser. LASIK can be a great option for people with blurred vision because the procedure treats the underlying cause of the condition; LASIK can also be a very convenient option because it eliminates the need to wear contacts or glasses. The procedure is often quick and painless, with a short healing period.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism, plain and simple is just the inability to see clearly. The condition causes the cornea—the transparent, outer layer of tissue that covers the eye, to have an irregular curvature, resulting in blurred vision. While the corneas of people without astigmatism have a near-perfectly spherical shape, people with astigmatism have corneas that are oval shaped. This causes blurred vision because the cornea is responsible for focusing light into the eye, and when light passes through the irregularly shaped cornea of a person with astigmatism, it does not refract properly. The cornea then sends a skewed image to the retina, the part of the eye that sends the image to the brain via the optic nerve. LASIK surgery can correct this problem by reshaping the cornea into a more spherical shape so that light can pass through it normally. LASIK uses a laser to remove small amounts of tissue that cause the cornea to be shaped irregularly. The procedure is often quick and painless, with a short healing period. Dr. Ashraf says that a LASIK procedure would be a good option for those looking for a more permanent solution to their vision problems, and those that feel their lifestyle would improve if they did not have to rely on glasses or contacts.

Options for People with Astigmatism

Astigmatism is very common and can be treated. It can be diagnosed after an eye doctor performs a proper eye exam. There are different options for treating astigmatism and one of those treatment options is laser eye surgery. Refractive or laser eye surgery allows the shape of the cornea to be changed so that when the light hits the eye and refracts, the patient will be able to see objects clearly as opposed to before when they appeared blurry. Other options can be explored as well. To find out if you have astigmatism, and if LASIK surgery may be a good option, contact Atlanta Vision Institute today for a comprehensive eye exam and LASIK consultation.