Treatment of astigmatism

Astigmatism is an eye condition that many people are not even aware of. However, it is a very common disorder that affects individuals of all ages, with up to 60% of people experiencing it. It often occurs alongside farsightedness or nearsightedness. It is most commonly corrected with glasses, but you can permanently eliminate it during cataract surgery or through laser and intraocular surgeries designed to free you from the dependence on glasses.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism reduces visual acuity at all distances. It is a so-called cylindrical refractive error, caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea, and more rarely, by the curvature of the lens. Instead of having a spherical shape, the curvature is more ellipsoidal, causing light to refract differently in areas with greater or lesser curvature. This leads to light rays not converging properly on the retina, resulting in blurred, distorted, and deformed vision. In most cases, astigmatism is congenital, but in some cases, it may develop in adulthood in connection with certain eye diseases.

How is astigmatism treated?

A low degree of astigmatism typically does not cause major issues and may not require any correction. However, higher degrees of astigmatism do require correction, as they can lead to headaches, fatigue, squinting, or a burning or stinging sensation in the eyes.

Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses fitted with cylindrical lenses or toric contact lenses. However, these aids do not cure or eliminate the condition; they merely correct it and improve vision.

Today, it is possible to completely eliminate astigmatism through modern surgical procedures. Intraocular and laser surgeries can remove astigmatism along with cataracts or other refractive errors of the eye.

Astigmatism correction during intraocular surgeries

Astigmatism is corrected during intraocular surgeries along with other eye conditions. In patients with cataracts, it is removed during cataract surgery, and in patients over 45, it can be corrected along with presbyopia during the PRELEX procedure.

There are two options for astigmatism correction in intraocular surgeries, depending on the degree of astigmatism. For lower degrees of astigmatism, corneal incisions (LRI) are used. For higher degrees of astigmatism, toric intraocular lenses are implanted. The suitability of each method is determined by the doctor based on a comprehensive preoperative examination.

Corneal incisions (LRI)

This is a method used to correct lower levels of astigmatism. It is a micro-surgical technique where small incisions are made at the edge of the cornea. These incisions help achieve the desired change in corneal curvature, thereby correcting the astigmatism.

Implantation of toric lenses

In intraocular surgeries, the natural lens is replaced with a new toric intraocular lens. This lens is specifically designed to correct both the refractive error and astigmatism. After the surgery, astigmatism is permanently resolved, resulting in clear and sharp vision.

Astigmatism correction during laser surgeries

Astigmatism can be corrected along with refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness through laser eye surgeries. Suitable procedures include ReLEx SMILE and femtoLASIK, where a laser beam gently and precisely reshapes the cornea. This allows light rays to focus evenly on the retina, resulting in clear and sharp vision, similar to that of a normal eye.