Treating Astigmatism


Astigmatism isn’t a disease and is very common and can be treatment completely painlessly by wearing glasses or contact lenses.  You can usually choose between these, depending on your preference.  Many people use both but at different times, to suit their lifestyle.  If you suffer from astigmatism, you may only be required to wear contacts or glasses for specific activities such as reading or driving. 

Glasses

Traditionally, glasses have always been worn to correct astigmatism. See Eye Glasses Guide.

Contact Lenses

Modern lenses are soft and are made to fit the shape of your cornea.  Rigid contact lenses, which are oxygen permeable offer many benefits including crisper vision, high in oxygen permeability, control of myopia and are overall, very durable.  They work by holding the shape of the cornea, giving a clearer image.  These types of lenses are healthier for the eye due to their oxygen permeability. See Contact Lenses Guide.  

Orthokeratology

If you have a low level of astigmatism, Orthokeratology may be a suitable treatment option.  The procedure uses contact lenses to re-shape the cornea overnight so that when you wakeup in the morning and the lenses are removed, the cornea has been re-shaped and vision is clearer.  The cornea can be reshaped quite easily because it is quite elastic.  One of the main advantages which, attracts people to Orthokeratology, is that glasses or contact lenses do not have to be worn during the day. See Orthokeratology.

Laser Eye Surgery

There are a number of different types of laser eye surgery, which can be used to correct astigmatism, these include Lasik and Intralase.  The procedure involves using a laser to alter the shape of the cornea and make it more spherical rather than oval.  Light can then focus on the retina in the correct way and vision improves.  To find out more about laser eye surgery visit the Laser Eye Surgery Guide.

Corneal Transplantation

A cornea transplant or keratoplasty, replaces damaged tissue on the eye's clear surface.

New Lens Implant

Astigmatism can be corrected by implanting a corrective lens within the eye.  This option is however, quite rarely adopted. See New Lens Implant.

RK - Radial Keratotomy

This is an older method of reshaping the cornea in the same manner as laser surgery but by the use of a blade instead of a laser.  See Radial Keratotomy.

AK - Arcuate Keratotomy

This is similar to radial keratotomy, but the corneal incisions are made at the periphery of the cornea.  The procedure has largely been replaced with laser surgery but may still be used under certain circumstances, for example, for the correction of residual astigmatism following a keratoplasty procedure or during cataract removal surgery. See Arcuate Keratotomy.

LTK - Laser Thermokeratoplasty

Speak to your opticians about your treatment options or alternatively, you may wish to contact your local eye clinic. See Laser Thermokeratoplasty.

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