When we are asked by customers in North York if laser eye surgery can treat astigmatism we say yes in most cases. Many of our patients at SeeRite Eye Clinic have astigmatism and want to know what options they have to correct their vision. If you know what astigmatism is and how laser surgery can help you can decide if this is for you.
Astigmatism occurs when your cornea or lens isn’t round; it’s irregular. This is like the difference between a football and a basketball. A normal cornea is more like a basketball in that it curves equally in all directions. Astigmatism makes the cornea look more like a football, with some parts steeper than others. Your eye’s irregular shape makes light focus on more than one point instead of just one point on your retina. This makes your vision blurry or distorted at all distances.
Laser eye surgery corrects astigmatism by changing the shape of your cornea so it curves more evenly. A computer controlled laser removes small amounts of tissue from certain parts of your cornea during the treatment to smooth out the bumps. This allows light to focus correctly on your retina and makes your vision clearer. The technology is so precise now that doctors can correct even the most complex astigmatism patterns that would have been impossible to correct in the past.
We need to do a full eye exam on you before we can say if you’re a good candidate for surgery. Our pre- and post-op LASIK and cataract treatment services include comprehensive measurements that show exactly how your cornea is shaped. We also do a full eye exam to check your overall eye health and make sure there’s nothing that would make surgery more difficult or change the results.
Not everyone with astigmatism can have laser surgery. The thickness and health of your cornea and how bad your astigmatism is are important. Laser surgery may not be safe for you if your astigmatism is very high or your cornea is too thin. In these cases we talk about other options that may be better. We are always honest about what we find because your safety and long term eye health is more important than any one surgery.
Laser surgery has a very high success rate for correcting astigmatism. Most patients have a big improvement in their vision and many don’t need glasses or contacts for most things anymore. Some people with severe astigmatism may still need moderate correction for reading small print or driving at night. We help you set realistic goals based on your own situation.
We’ll take care of you after surgery to make sure you heal properly. We offer dry eye therapy to help you feel better while you recover because many people have temporary dryness. Patients with astigmatism need to take extra care of their dry eyes because the best visual outcomes come from proper healing.
We also want to avoid eye illness for the rest of your life and we’ll keep an eye on your eyes after surgery to catch any problems early. Regular follow up treatment ensures your eyes stay healthy and protects the money you spent on vision correction.
We can deal with eye crises and injuries if they come up before or after your surgery. While complications are rare it’s nice to know you have skilled eye care professionals available.
Good eating can also help you heal. We talk about foods and supplements that can help your eyes stay healthy and heal after surgery.
We tell families in North York who come to our specialist myopia control clinic in North York that laser surgery can correct astigmatism but it’s not usually done on kids. We have other treatments that are good for younger folks. While you’re considering surgery or if you need correction after your procedure our optical services can give you great glasses or contacts.
At SeeRite Eye Clinic we want to educate you on all the ways you can correct your astigmatism. Many people have gained better vision and more freedom from glasses and contacts with laser eye surgery. We’re here for you every step of the way whether you’re ready to have surgery or just want to learn more.