One of the biggest myths about LASIK eye surgery is that it cannot correct astigmatism. Years ago it is true that LASIK was unable to correct astigmatism, but with the all-laser approach used today, astigmatism is no longer a barrier to achieving clear vision without the use of corrective lenses.
Astigmatism is a common type of refractive error where the eye does not focus light evenly onto the retina. Unlike near-sightedness and far-sightedness, astigmatism causes blurriness at both near vision and distance vision. The cornea of a normal eye is curved like a basketball, with the same degree of roundness in all areas. An eye with astigmatism has a cornea that is curved more like a football, with some areas that are steeper or more rounded than others.
At Eye Clinic of Austin, LASIK eye surgery is performed using the Intralase™ laser and the Wavelight® Allegretto excimer laser. Using these two lasers, the eye surgeon is able to reshape the cornea to that round shape, which then achieves clear near vision and distance vision. The all-laser LASIK technique has big advantages for not just the doctor, but the patient as well. The patient will experience greater comfort while the eye surgeon gains greater accuracy and stability.
If you have astigmatism and would like to know whether or not you may be a candidate for LASIK, please schedule your free LASIK consultation to learn more.