What is Astigmatism? And How Can It Be Corrected?
Wednesday - March 02, 2011
Brought to you by Pan Pacific Laser Vision Center, the longest serving Laser Vision Center in Hawaii since 1997.
Astigmatism is a common eye condition that can easily be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery.
Astigmatism is characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea occurring in nearly everybody to some degree. A person’s eye is naturally spherical in shape. Under normal circumstances, when light enters the eye, it refracts evenly, creating a clear view of the object. However, the eye of a person with astigmatism is shaped more like a football. For this person, when light enters the eye it is refracted more in one direction than the other, allowing only part of the object to be in focus at one time. Objects at any distance can appear blurry and wavy.
Almost all degrees of astigmatism can be corrected with properly prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses.
If the astigmatism is moderate to high, however, corrective laser vision surgery could help more.
How Are Astigmatisms Treated?
Corrective lenses (eyeglasses or contact lenses). For astigmatism, special corrective lenses called toric lenses are prescribed.
Refractive surgery. Another method for correcting astigmatism is by changing the shape of the cornea through refractive laser eye surgery. There is more than one type of refractive surgery IE: LASIK or PRK/LASEK, specific treatments are recommended on an individual basis.
Refractive surgeries require you have generally healthy eyes that are free from severe illness, IE: retinal problems and certain eye diseases such as keratoconus or cataracts.
For more information or to schedule your free consultation please call us at 949-9200, or visit our website www.PanPacificLaser.com.
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