Many considerations go into determining whether a patient is a good candidate for LASIK, such as cost, your degree of vision impairment, and potential side effects. Since astigmatism affects most people at some level and is a frequent companion of common issues like nearsightedness and farsightedness, knowing whether LASIK can correct the condition can also be an important factor.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or the lens of the eye has curved into an oblong shape. This can occur naturally or be caused by an injury. For people who have some degree of astigmatism, this can cause blurred vision and lead to discomfort and headaches. Severe cases may even require a corneal transplant. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or laser eye surgery.
During the procedure, LASIK corrects astigmatism by extracting the inner corneal layer from the eye. This alters the oblong shape that can cause the blurriness associated with astigmatism. There are other ways of treating astigmatism, including another surgical procedure which removes more tissue. LASIK has the extra advantage of correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism with a 96% success rate.
LASIK also has the added benefit of being nearly painless, and it has a very quick recovery time. For those who have mild or moderate vision problems, LASIK is a great vision correction option to consider.
As always, you should consult your ophthalmologist when considering LASIK or any other procedure. Only a physician can evaluate your unique situation and recommend the best course of action for you.
Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions regarding LASIK surgery at (800) 398-3937.
