Astigmatism

What is Astigmatism?

Asigamatism is an optical error correctable with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery usually caused by the cornea (the window to the eyeball) in which the radius in one meridian is different than the meridian 90 degrees away.  Another words instead of being round like basket ball, the cornea is shaped like a egg.  The   You can create an astigmatic surface by lightly squeezing a rubber ball on the two opposite sides. This is just another optical error.  Astigmatism may be low, moderate or high in amount.  Astigmatic corrections are incorporated into your eye glass prescription.  Patients with astigmatism may be near-sighted, farsighted, or presbyopic.

Is It True That Contact Lenses Do Not Correct for Astigmatism?

No.  Special soft lenses , designed to correct for astigmatism, are called Toric lenses.  These lenses have an astigmatic correction fabricated into the lens.  For them to work properly,  the lens must move up and down without twisting upon the blink.  Rotation of the lens with blinking results in unstable vision.  Another way of correcting for astigmatism with contact lenses is to use a firm or gas permeable lens which neutralizes the toric surface of the cornea.

Can LASIK Correct Astigmatism?

Yes.  It does a excellent job.  Some lasers do a better job with different types of astigmatism.

Can Cataract Surgery Correct Astigmatism?

No. Cataract surgery can correct the non-astigmatic component of the refractive error.  Glasses must be used it significant astigmatism is present.

What is Irregular Astigmatism or Kerataconus?

The shape of the cornea is distorted, thus, the astigmatism is unpredictable.  Glasses can not be fabricated to correct for this optical error.  Firm or rigid contact lenses must be used to neutralize the surface of the irregular astigmatism.  As a matter of fact,  contact lenses were initially prescribed in the 1920's to correct for this condition.  If a patient has Kerataconus and contact lenses provide adequate vision, then no other treatment should be contemplated.  However, if the patient can not tolerate a contact lens or can not see well out of his/her contact lenses, a new cornea should replace the distorted cornea.  The procedure is known as a corneal transplant and is usually successful (90%). Keratoconus because of its irregular astigmatism and associated corneal thinness is a contra-indication for LASIK (refractive surgery).