What is Astigmatism?
Perfect eyesight depends on perfect curvature of the cornea. In astigmatism, that curve is not uniform. It may curve more horizontally or vertically, which results in ‘regular’ astigmatism, or it may be uneven across both directions, in which case it is diagnosed as ‘irregular’ astigmatism.
What Are The Symptoms Of Astigmatism
If objects both near and far away are blurry or you have trouble focusing, or you see ‘haloes’ at night, it’s possible you have astigmatism. In children it may manifest as a ‘lazy eye. You might also squint or blink a lot, and headaches related and eyestrain are common.
Prevention
Most people with astigmatism are born with it, and there’s no known cause. The best thing you can do is have regular eye tests, and if you notice changes in your vision, get glasses or contact lenses or enquire about Lasik laser surgery.
Risk Factors
Although most astigmatisms are congenital, it can be contracted through an injury or disease, or through eye surgery. Keratoconus, a condition where your cornea develops a bulge, can also cause astigmatism.
Possible Treatment
Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, we would generally recommend Lasik surgery, in which we will use a tiny laser to reshape the cornea, or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) in which we will use a laser to ablate (remove) a microscopic layer of tissue away from your cornea to reshape it. In some cases we recommend an astigmatic keratotomy, in which the surgeon will make tiny incisions on the steepest part of the curves on your cornea to allow the light to focus more accurately on your retina.
Diagnosis
When you come to LASERSIGHT for eye testing, we’ll utilise an array of techniques and technologies to determine if you have astigmatism, and to ascertain the exact shape of your cornea, which will assist in formulating the right corrective approach. We’ll deploy a keratometer to measure the curves of your cornea, and a corneal topographer to map the shape.
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What Causes Astigmatism?
Generally you will be born with astigmatism, but it’s possible that disease or a condition like keratoconus can precipitate it, and accident, injury or the unintended effects of eye surgery can also be the cause.
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How Can I Tell If I Have Astigmatism
If you suspect that your vision is changing, or you have trouble focusing, book an appointment with LASERSIGHT and we’ll perform all the necessary tests and examinations.
How Can LASERSIGHT Help
Your LASERSIGHT team has skills, the equipment and the experience to diagnose astigmatism and determine the most effective course of action, whether that is Lasik surgery, PRK or an astigmatic keratotomy.