If you have light to moderate astigmatism, you may be a prospect for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. LASIK is a procedure that could benefit many people with the correction of their eyesight, including:

  • Astigmatism
  • Farsightedness
  • Nearsightedness

All of these issues are together referred to as refractive eye disorders. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK for short, is a type of refractive eye surgery that modifies the cornea’s contour to improve a patient’s vision. If your surgery is successful, you may no longer require the use of glasses or contacts.

What is Astigmatism?

You must comprehensively understand what astigmatism is and how it impacts your vision before deciding on LASIK treatment for your condition. It is a refractive error, not a sickness or a virus that impairs the capacity of the eyes to concentrate light, which alters your vision. This is what causes blurry vision.

The condition known as astigmatism occurs when the light does not focus in a single location in the retina; rather, several focus points occur either behind or in front of the retina. This can lead to vision problems such as blurriness and distortion, which is quite distinct from nearsightedness and farsightedness because it normally does not alter with distance.

Because of astigmatism, your eyes may experience strain, leading to headaches, pain, and the need to squint to see clearly. It is usually brought about by an abnormally shaped cornea, though the precise reason varies from patient to patient. Astigmatism is a common condition that frequently co-occurs with nearsightedness, also known as myopia, and farsightedness, also known as hyperopia.

Types of Astigmatism

There are two common types of astigmatism:

  • Corneal astigmatism: The cornea has an altered structure, causing vision problems.
  • Lenticular astigmatism: The eye’s lens is disfigured, leading to refractive error.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

Before determining whether or not laser eye surgery is the best option for you, you must thoroughly understand what LASIK is and how it works. You are now aware of astigmatism and how it influences your vision.

Performing LASIK for astigmatism is the same as performing normal LASIK. The procedure is completely blade-free and relies on an excimer laser to achieve the desired accuracy, speed, and efficacy. It starts by making a small flap in the tissue of your cornea so that it can access the tissue underneath that needs to be reorganized.

After that, the tissue is reshaped by the invisible UV beams into the precise shape your doctor has agreed upon. When the treatment is complete, the corneal flap will be reattached to its original position. There are no sutures or stitches required because the incision was made without blades. To avoid getting an infection, you’ll need some anti-inflammatory eye drops your doctor recommended.

Who will be Suitable for LASIK for Astigmatism?

You must first have corneal astigmatism to be eligible for LASIK surgery to correct your vision if you suffer from astigmatism. After that, you must satisfy the standard requirements for LASIK.

A unit of measurement known as a diopter will require your doctor to ascertain the degree to which you suffer from astigmatism (D). The FDA has approved LASIK to address astigmatism, quantified by cylinder error, ranging from -12D to +6D. This measurement is simple to obtain for a qualified medical expert and simply requires a straightforward assessment of the patient’s eyes.

The degree of an individual’s astigmatism often does not surpass 3.0 diopters, which indicates that it is typically not overly challenging to correct using LASIK surgery. Most of the time, astigmatism can be corrected with a single session of LASIK surgery.

You might not be a good candidate for LASIK surgery for several reasons. The following are some examples of these:

  • Having a vision that cannot be relied upon, as seen by a constantly shifting prescription.
  • An autoimmune illness makes you more likely to experience difficulties following surgery.
  • Corneas that are too thin or eyes that are fragile in other ways can raise the chance of structural failure following surgery.
  • Being under the age of 18, as LASIK surgery is not permitted on kids.

Can LASIK Fix Astigmatism?

LASIK surgery for astigmatism will permanently clear the patient’s vision by creating a more symmetrical front surface of the eye. This will allow the patient to avoid needing specific glasses in the future. Even though LASIK surgery can still correct astigmatism of a higher magnitude, a follow-up procedure may be required to fine-tune and improve the results of the initial process.

If you have any concerns or issues, you should discuss them with your ophthalmologist. They will be able to guide you through the rehabilitation process, answer any questions you may have, and explain what to expect.

Recovery time following LASIK surgery is often relatively short, with many patients claiming that they were able to return to their normal activities the very same day as the treatment. After the LASIK procedure, the patient will need to rest for fifteen to thirty minutes before the doctor checks on them.

After that, they are free to go about their normal activities for the remainder of the day. It is essential, however, to keep in mind that you will not be able to drive yourself back home after this. Lastly, the patient will be given protective sunglasses, which they should wear for the next week to guarantee safety and full healing.

What is the Success Rate for LASIK for Astigmatism?

The LASIK procedure has a patient satisfaction rate of roughly 96%, which is an impressively high percentage. The Food and Drug Administration and other key authorities in the area agree that it is safe to use.

LASIK remains a form of eye surgery and is not without its associated dangers, despite the fact that it has gained universal acceptability and has a high success rate. Although there is not a large amount of data that is particular to LASIK being used to cure astigmatism, the following statistics are pertinent and should be noted:

  • Less than one percent of patients who get LASIK end up experiencing serious issues due to the procedure.
  • Over 98 percent of people who undergo LASIK surgery report feeling satisfied with the results after the procedure.
  • Dry eye is one of the most frequent postoperative symptoms patients experience in the first few days after LASIK surgery. The majority of patients get complete recovery within three to six months.

It is essential to remember that the very few patients who reported being unsatisfied with the results of their LASIK procedure did not necessarily have to deal with any severe issues due to their treatment. It’s possible that a patient went into LASIK with inflated expectations for what may be accomplished with the procedure. These patients would have, in the majority of instances, seen a sizable improvement in the quality of their vision as a consequence of the surgical procedure.

Conclusion

The eye ailment known as astigmatism can be treated successfully with LASIK surgery. It is a refractive eye disorder that develops due to an abnormal bend in the cornea of the affected eye. Your corneal shape can be altered by LASIK surgery, which will result in fewer symptoms of astigmatism.