Astigmatism

What causes Astigmatism?

The direct cause of astigmatism is unknown; however, it is thought to be closely related to genetics. Some are born with astigmatism but there is also the possibility that it could develop later on in life. Astigmatism can also develop due to an injury to the eye or develop after eye surgery and can affect your vision up close or far away.

You may be at risk for developing astigmatism if you have:

• Thinning or scarring of the cornea
  
• A family history of astigmatism or other eye disorders such as keratoconus
  
• Undergone eye surgery
  
• Excessive farsightedness or nearsightedness
• Experienced direct injury to the eye or surrounding eye area

What are the symptoms of Astigmatism?

The symptoms of astigmatism can vary person to person. Common symptoms may include but are not limited to:

• Difficulty seeing or driving at night
  
• Blurry or distorted vision at all distances (up close and far away)
  
• Constant eye strain or squinting
• Headaches

Treatment options for Astigmatism

While many patients have very mild cases of astigmatism, some instances may be more severe and can create significant visual distortion. Mild to moderate astigmatism is easily treated with corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses, while more severe instances of the condition can be corrected through a variety of refractive surgeries.

LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK is an effective treatment for astigmatism. Essentially, a surgeon with a laser can reshape the cornea and thus correct the patient’s astigmatism to create clearer vision. Because your eyes and your vision are as unique to you as your fingerprints and DNA, it’s very difficult for us to know whether LASIK eye surgery can benefit you without an eye examination

While anyone interested in LASIK in the Atlanta area will need to schedule a consultation, these are the basic qualifications to be a candidate:

• 18 years or older
  
• Stable vision for at least one year (same prescription)
  
• Healthy cornea based on pre‑operative screening

LASIK has been a huge success in helping those who have experienced astigmatism and is more affordable than continuing to spend money on glasses and contact lenses every year.

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Treating Astigmatism through Cataract Surgery

There is also an opportunity to correct astigmatism permanently by way of cataract surgery. The two main methods to correct astigmatism are:

• Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI)
  
• Toric Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
  
• LRI involves making arc‑shaped incisions in the cornea at the areas of steeper curvature. The goal of the incisions is to flatten these areas, correcting astigmatism and resulting in good distance vision without glasses.
• Toric IOLs provide greater focusing power in certain parts of the lens in order to cancel out astigmatism of the cornea. The lenses are rotated during surgery to be oriented at the axis of astigmatism and are more predictable than LRIs. 

Common questions about Astigmatism

Can Astigmatism get worse?

Naturally occurring astigmatism typically stabilizes with age. However, astigmatism can change and worsen throughout your lifetime. It can slowly progress with age and is partially influenced by heredity and environment; it is very common and easily corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.

Can Astigmatism go away?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for astigmatism or preventative measures that can prevent it from worsening over time. Having astigmatism is not a disease and it typically does not lead to any other problems. You can discuss with your doctor the best ways to correct the condition and see what would be the best approach given your lifestyle and vision goals.

Can Astigmatism be corrected?

Yes, there are ways to help correct astigmatism! You can easily correct astigmatism using glasses and contact lenses or by having refractive surgery such as LASIK, PRK, ICL or a refractive lens exchange.