One of the most common misperceptions about LASIK is that it can only correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. In fact, at Bochner Eye Institute, Dr. Raymond Stein and our team have successfully treated countless patients with astigmatism. The state-of-the-art lasers that Dr. Stein uses are extremely effective at correcting smaller and higher amounts of astigmatism.
How Astigmatism Affects Vision
Astigmatism is an abnormal curvature of the cornea, or the clear outer covering of the eye. The cornea should have a round shape, like a beach ball. An evenly curved cornea focuses light entering the eye onto a single point on the retina at the back of the eye. A cornea with astigmatism is more curved along one direction than the other, like the top of an egg or a football. This causes incoming light to be focused at multiple points inside the eye, which leads to blurry and often distorted vision.
Glasses and contact lenses are an adequate way to correct for astigmatism, but they are not a permanent solution. The only permanent correction for astigmatism is LASIK or other laser vision correction procedures.
Fixing Astigmatism With LASIK
During a LASIK procedure, a flap is created in the outer layer of corneal tissue. The flap is folded back to reveal the underlying tissue. Then, a laser is used to remove tissue to flatten or steepen one meridian of the cornea, giving it a more spherical shape. With a rounder shape, the cornea can properly focus incoming light onto a single point of the retina. Once the laser has finished reshaping the cornea, the hinged flap is restored to its original position.
Known for using innovative, state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Stein and the Bochner Eye Institute team can improve upon the results of traditional LASIK with sophisticated wavefront technology. The wavefront system identifies the unique characteristics of the patient’s eye and creates a topographical map of the cornea. This information is then used to calibrate the laser that performs the correction for even greater accuracy and customization.
LASIK surgery takes only a few minutes and requires little recovery downtime. Most patients are able to see clearly as soon as the evening of surgery or the next day. When the procedure is performed by a qualified, experienced laser eye surgeon like Dr. Stein, serious complications are rare. Many LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision after surgery.
Request a LASIK Consultation Today
If you are dependent on glasses or contacts because of astigmatism, Dr. Raymond Stein and the Bochner Eye Institute team would like the opportunity to discuss your LASIK options with you. The quick procedure can fix your astigmatism and reduce your need for corrective eyewear. We can explain the risks and potential complications and help you make a potentially life-changing decision.
To request an appointment at Bochner Eye Institute, please contact us today.