I've Got Astigmatism. Can I Get LASIK

1. I've Got Astigmatism. Can I Get LASIK? Did you know that most people suffer from some degree of astigmatism? While eyeglasses and contact lenses can help with astigmatism, LASIK surgery offers more convenient and long-term effects in correcting astigmatism. Is LASIK effective for astigmatism? Yes. You can get LASIK if astigmatism falls within the treatment limits. Thankfully, technology has made it possible for most vision problems to benefit from LASIK. Here is everything you need to know about astigmatism and whether you can correct it through astigmatism. What Is Astigmatism? Astigmatism is the refractive error that occurs when your cornea curves more in one direction than another. In cases of astigmatism, the cornea tends to be shaped more like a football. Therefore, the light gets bent in one direction, and your vision becomes blurry and distorted. The two major types of astigmatism are: •Regular •Irregular While regular astigmatism is common and easy to address with LASIK, irregular astigmatism is difficult to correct with laser surgery. Irregular astigmatism results from conditions like: •Pellucid marginal degeneration •Keratoconus •Epithelial Basement Membrane Dystrophy The type of astigmatism we will focus on is regular astigmatism because LASIK is not an effective option for irregular astigmatism. Under What Conditions Can Astigmatism Patients Get LASIK? If you are considering getting LASIK to help with your astigmatism, there are some requirements you need to meet to be eligible. The requirements are: •Have six or fewer diopters. This means that the astigmatism is regular. •Cannot have more than -12 diopters for myopia •Have more than six diopters in cases of farsightedness. Apart from the eyesight measures, other factors that determine whether you are the right candidate for LASIK are: •You should be over 18 years of age. •You must not be suffering from autoimmune diseases. •Your eyesight should be stable for the past year. •A pregnant or breastfeeding mother cannot get LASIK.

2. •Your eyes' moisture content should be sufficient. Your doctor will consider all the above factors before booking you for LASIK. What to Expect During the LASIK Procedure? This outpatient procedure can take as few as 30 minutes. The doctor may give you sedatives to calm you down. Several numbing eye drops will ensure that you are stable and not bothered by the equipment. Alternatively, the doctor can use certain equipment that prevents you from blinking throughout the procedure. It also helps to keep your eyes focused in the correct position. Once the doctor has created a laser flap in your cornea, the eyeball will regain shape. You will no longer have eyes that have a longer curve. Instead, the curve will be smooth and more equally round in shape. Most people receive correction for farsightedness and shortsightedness during Astigmatism correction. It can be a simple process like steepening or flattening the cornea. After the procedure, the incision will heal over time. Healing differs from one individual to another. However, to most individuals, healing may take a week to six months. Few appointments with your doctor after the surgery are scheduled to ensure you're healing well. Your doctor will offer you eye drops for aftercare to keep your eyes and fight off eye-related infections. LASIK for Astigmatism: What Is the Success Rate? LASIK for astigmatism is a safe procedure with a patient satisfaction rate of approximately 96%. This widespread procedure has gained high acceptance and success rates over time. Some patients experience postoperative symptoms like dry eyes and other side effects which wear off in time. Conclusion Unlike assistive devices like prescription glasses and contact lenses, LASIK offers a long-term solution to astigmatism.Are you a good fit for LASIK for astigmatism? Get in touch with our team of experts today to get an expert opinion on whether LASIK would be effective depending on your condition.