What You Need to Know about LASIK for Astigmatism

Thinking about getting LASIK for astigmatism? Lucky for you, we’re here to answer all your pressing questions about whether this procedure is suitable and safe for your eye condition!

For the longest time, corrective lenses were the only option to manage and correct astigmatism. Thanks to the advancements in medical technology, it’s now possible to have crystal clear vision even if you have this eye condition.

To help you feel more confident in your decision, we’ve shared below everything you need to know about LASIK for astigmatism!

Let’s first define what astigmatism is.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is somewhat of a misunderstood term. It’s not an eye disease, but rather a refractive error just like nearsightedness and farsightedness.

It occurs when the cornea (the front clear cover of the eye) is irregularly shaped, or not as round as it should be. Instead, the cornea is oval-shaped, similar to a rugby ball.

When your cornea is irregularly shaped, the light can’t reach it properly, resulting in blurry vision. This is why you experience frequent headaches, eye discomfort, blurry or distorted vision, and difficulty seeing at night.

Is astigmatism worth correcting?

You don’t need to undergo LASIK if you feel like you’re already comfortable just wearing corrective glasses and lenses.

However, if you want a more permanent solution or your prescription keeps worsening, then LASIK would be a suitable option to correct your astigmatism.

Can LASIK correct astigmatism?

The short answer is yes. LASIK is one of the most common surgical procedures to correct refractive errors in the cornea.

LASIK surgically alters the shape of the cornea using a laser, allowing the light to enter the eye at a single point, resulting in a much clearer vision.

Here’s what generally happens during LASIK: the surgeon will use a small blade to cut a small flap on the front of your eye to reach the part of your cornea to be reshaped.

The surgeon reshapes parts of your cornea using a programmed laser and then lays the flap back afterwards. The flap will heal without stitches.

It’s a quick and painless procedure that takes no more than 30 minutes for both eyes. Before the surgery, numbing drops will be administered so patients won’t feel anything.

Can LASIK correct all types of astigmatism?

The way LASIK works makes it unable to correct lenticular astigmatism, a condition caused by a lens issue, not a corneal problem.

Remember that LASIK is a procedure that involves correcting the cornea, so it can only address errors in this part of the eye. It can’t address the other parts, such as the lenses.

Who qualifies for LASIK for astigmatism?

 Most people who get LASIK are nearsighted, but those with farsightedness and other refractive errors may still qualify as long as their prescription is within limits.

Those who want to get any type of laser eye surgery are required to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic test to determine if they meet the basic requirements and which procedure is more suitable for them.

A good LASIK candidate is at least 18 years old, in good health, isn’t currently pregnant or nursing, has no other eye conditions, and most importantly, has a stable prescription.

Just a friendly reminder here that to qualify for LASIK, your prescription cannot exceed -11.00 diopters of nearsightedness, +5.00 diopters of farsightedness, and 5.00 diopters of astigmatism.

Speak with a specialist eye doctor to decide your next steps forward

 If you have astigmatism and want to consult a specialist on what potential next steps you can take, reach out to Shinagawa Eye Centre for a personal consultation!