Can laser eye surgery fix astigmatism?

Most people are aware of long-sightedness and short-sightedness. But not everyone knows about astigmatism. Approximately 1.4 million Australians struggle with this vision defect. It may also be present alongside shortsightedness, but not always.

What causes this condition? What are the symptoms? Can laser eye surgery effectively treat astigmatism? Let’s explore these questions.

What is astigmatism?

The ideal eye should be round. Unfortunately, most of us do not have perfect eyes. In reality, most people have an eye with astigmatism to some degree or another.

Astigmatism occurs when the curvature of the cornea is uneven, causing light to bend at different angles instead of focusing on a single point¹https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/50-how-the-eye-focuses-light. This results in blurred vision at all distances, as well as symptoms like headaches, eye strain, and difficulty seeing at night. People with astigmatism may also notice halos around lights, especially in low-light environments.

Most individuals are born with astigmatism, but it can also develop due to eye conditions, eye surgery, or injury.

How can you fix astigmatism?

You can wear glasses or contact lenses to correct the issue. But, if you dislike the idea of wearing corrective lenses for the rest of your life, for instance, you might suffer with dry eyes and wish to seek an alternative, you can instead have eye treatment such as laser vision correction or SmartSight, that ensures you rid yourself of astigmatism and other vision corrective issues, with a dramatically faster healing rate, comfort level and a return to normal life.

Laser eye surgery, including LASIK eye surgery, works by reshaping the curvature of the cornea. By carefully removing microscopic amounts of corneal tissue, the procedure ensures that light properly focuses on the retina, eliminating blurred vision and improving overall clarity.

Even if you do not have nearsightedness or farsightedness, you can still undergo refractive surgery solely to correct astigmatism. The cost of this surgery is the same as for any other type of laser eye surgery. If you have astigmatism and cataracts, we can correct both at the same time with a lens implant.

For more information about astigmatism correction surgery, why not book an initial assessment.

Is laser eye surgery for astigmatism safe?

Millions of people have undergone the procedure with few complications and excellent results.²All About Vision. 2021. LASIK Risks and Complications. As technology improves, side effects are becoming even less common. Results are effective and long term, although not everyone sees 20/20 after the procedure.

Interested in laser eye surgery for astigmatism?

Laser eye surgery for astigmatism is a safe, effective procedure.³Articles, M., astigmatism, H., Almousa, M. and Doctors, T., 2021. Laser eye surgery for astigmatism | Top Doctors.Yet, choosing an eye doctor who has ample experience is still important.

At VSON in Brisbane, our highly trained professionals will assess your eyes, discuss your options, and recommend the most suitable treatment for your vision needs.

Book an appointment to get started!