Astigmatism

Your LASERSIGHT doctor will be able to diagnose astigmatism by conducting a comprehensive eye examination, and eye test involving an eye chart.

Quick Tip: A general eye check-up is recommended once every two years for people over 45 years of age.

Astigmatism is a common condition affecting both children and adults. Other risk factors of astigmatism include:

• Genetics
• Existing refractive errors (myopia & hyperopia)

Astigmatism occurs due to the irregular shape of the cornea and not external factors. Regular eye assessments following the diagnosis should be arranged as changes in eyewear prescription may be necessary over time, to ensure quality vision. Laser eye surgery can be performed if your prescription is stable for 12 months.

As the major cause of Astigmatism is genetics, astigmatism is a lifelong condition unless you correct the condition with refractive surgery.

The long term implications of astigmatism if you don’t receive refractive surgery is that astigmatism may worsen over time, increasing your risk of developing keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea becomes progressively thinner. In this case, you will be at risk of needing a corneal transplant.

There are several different types of refractive laser eye surgeries that can help improve or correct astigmatism. Depending on the type of astigmatism you have and your personal characteristics, the best eye treatment option may vary patient to patient.

• 1st Generation PRK
  PRK was the first type of refractive surgery for vision correction, developed prior to LASIK. Whilst PRK can be associated with slightly more discomfort and longer convalescence than LASIK, it causes less thinning of the cornea and thus is recommended for some patients with astigmatism.
• 2nd Generation LASIK
  LASIK is the most common type of laser vision correction procedure worldwide. This two-step procedure involves the eye surgeon creating a flap on the cornea and using laser to reshape the curvature of the cornea, to correct different types of astigmatism.
• 2nd Generation Femto-LASIK
  Femto-LASIK is similar to conventional LASIK, except it uses an extremely accurate computer driven femtosecond laser to correct refractive errors like astigmatism. Femto-LASIK provides superior safety and accuracy, enabling more people to be eligible for surgery and offers greater stability to the cornea in the long term.
• 3rd Generation SMILE
  Whereas traditional LASIK and Femto-LASIK procedures rely on the creation of a corneal flap, SMILE is the first minimally invasive and flapless procedure for the treatment of astigmatism. As a 3rd generation advancement in laser eye surgery, SMILE benefits patients with thin corneas, dry eyes, contact lens intolerance and those who were previously unsuitable for LASIK.

For patients who aren’t suitable for laser eye surgery, other eye treatment options for astigmatism include Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) and Intraocular Lens (IOL).

However, no two eyes are the same and so a careful assessment by a qualified Eye Surgeon will help determine what’s best for you.