What is Astigmatism and how can we treat it?
Astigmatism is a frequent and usually treatable alteration in the curvature of the eye that causes distant and near blurred vision. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens has an irregular curvature. Like myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism is a refractive error, which means that it is neither an eye disease nor a health problem; it is simply an eye problem in the focus of the visual image.
Symptoms of astigmatism
Astigmatism causes blurred vision at any distance. The symptoms of an untreated astigmatism are visual fatigue and headache, especially after reading or doing activities that require using vision for a long time. Strabismus is also a very common symptom. Lasik eye surgery Michigan can help correct astigmatism for those in Michigan.
What causes astigmatism?
Astigmatism is usually caused by irregularities in the shape of the cornea. Instead of having a symmetrical rounded shape (like a baseball), it has a more similar shape to a ball of football, with a meridian significantly more curved than its perpendicular. To understand what the meridians are, think of the front of the eye as if it were a watch. A line connecting the 12 with the 6 would be a meridian; while a line connecting the 3 with the 9 would be the other. The most curved meridian along with the flattest constitutes the main meridians of an eye with astigmatism.
In some cases, astigmatism is caused by the shape of the lenses inside the eye. This is known as lenticular astigmatism, to differentiate it from the corneal that is the most frequent.
If the cornea and/or the lens have an oval shape with irregular curves, the rays of light do not project adequately into the retina and cause a refractive error
Types of astigmatism
- Myopic astigmatism: One or both of the main meridians of the eye focus the light in front of the retina.
- Hypermetropic astigmatism: One or both major meridians focus light behind the retina.
- Mixed astigmatism: One main meridian focuses the light in front of the retina, and the other one focuses the light behind the retina.
Astigmatism is also classified as regular or irregular. In the regular, the main meridians are perfectly perpendicular to each other (form an angle of 90 degrees). In irregular astigmatism, they are not perpendicular. Most astigmatisms are regular corneal.
Irregular astigmatism may be the result of an eye injury that caused the cornea to heal, by some surgery or by keratoconus, a condition of the eye that causes thinning of the cornea. Lasik eye surgery Detroit can help correct astigmatism issues for those in the metro Detroit area, even servicing those looking for Ann arbor lasik eye surgery.
Treatment
The purpose of treating astigmatism is to improve the clarity of vision and provide relief to the eye. The treatments are the use of corrective lenses or refractive surgery. Lasik eye surgery Michigan can be done at one of the states leading laser eye surgery clinics the Yaldo Eye Center.
Treatment for any form of eye condition must be taken seriously as any complications can be amplified by not following guidelines given to you by your Michigan laser eye surgeon.
Corrective lenses
Corrective lenses can be used to treat astigmatism; these act by counteracting the irregularities in the curvatures of the cornea and lens.
- Eyeglasses: Eyeglasses are made with lenses that help compensate for the irregular shape of the eye. The lenses make the light refract correctly in the retina.
- Contact lenses: Like eyeglasses, Michigan contact lenses can correct astigmatism. Several types and styles are available, among them, soft and disposable; rigid and gas permeable; and bifocals.
Contact lenses are also used in a procedure called orthokeratology. In orthokeratology, you wear rigid contact lenses for several hours a day until the curvature of your eye is matched. Then, you use the lenses less frequently to maintain the new shape. If you interrupt this treatment, your eyes return to their previous form.
Refractive surgery
Refractive surgery improves vision and reduces the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. Your eye surgeon uses a laser to mold the curvature of the cornea and thus correct the refractive error
Among the types of refractive surgery for astigmatism are the following:
- LASIK surgery Michigan (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis [laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis]): In this procedure, the eye surgeon creates a thin articulated flap in the cornea. Use an excimer laser to sculpt the shape of the cornea and then reposition the flap in its place.
- LASEK surgery Michigan (laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomileusis [laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis]): Instead of creating a flap in the cornea, the surgeon softens the thin protective layer (epithelium) of the cornea with a special alcohol. Use an excimer laser to modify the curvature of the cornea and then replace the softened epithelium in place.
- Photorefractive keratectomy Michigan: This procedure is similar to LASEK surgery, except that the surgeon removes the epithelium. It will naturally grow back and conform to the new shape of the cornea. The patient should wear protective contact lenses after the surgery.
- Epi-LASIK Michigan: This is a variation of LASEK surgery. Instead of alcohol, the doctor uses a special blunt-tip mechanical instrument to separate a very thin sheet of epithelium. Then reshape the cornea with an excimer laser and replace the epithelium.
