Astigmatism Treatment Options Explained

If you have been diagnosed with astigmatism, fret not! Numerous treatment options are available. Astigmatism is a common eye ailment, and with expert assistance, you should be able to get back to living a life with clear vision.

What is Astigmatism?

Ideally, a normal eye will be shaped like a round ball. The cornea and lens will be curved equally. With astigmatism, your eye shape becomes like an egg with mismatching curves. For this reason, light rays entering the eye cannot focus evenly on the retina. Because the cornea is abnormally shaped and the light passing through bends before striking the retina, it results in blurry vision.

In addition, astigmatism is measured in diopters. If there is no astigmatism, the diopter value will be 0. Between 0 and 0.75, there is a slight issue. From 0.75 to 4 is a mild to moderate case of astigmatism. Anything above 4 diopters is considered severe. Vision correction becomes necessary above 1.5 diopters. Causes remain unclear, but genetics have a major role in developing astigmatism.

The condition may be present at birth but can go undetected until a child’s performance is hindered in school, and the reason is a vision problem. It can also develop after an injury, surgery, or an eye disease. The condition is often accompanied by nearsightedness or farsightedness. You’d experience eyestrain, headaches, squinting, distorted vision, and difficulty seeing at night.

Types of Astigmatism

There are two types of astigmatism: Corneal and Lenticular. With corneal astigmatism, your cornea gets shaped like a football (as opposed to a basketball shape), and the light rays entering it bend in different directions. Either the steepest curvatures become perpendicular (also called regular astigmatism), or there is an uneven curvature, and the steepest points aren’t at a 90-degree angle due to injury, scarring, or keratoconus (called irregular astigmatism).

Lenticular astigmatism is when the lens curvature is uneven, causing the light rays to scatter before reaching the retina. In both cases, you would have a compromised near and distant vision. After a comprehensive eye exam, your doctor should be able to determine the exact problem and the right course of action.

Astigmatism Treatment Options

There are both surgical and non-surgical options to treat astigmatism. After your doctor diagnoses your condition thoroughly, they will suggest the right approach to correct the error. Generally, there are the following three astigmatism treatment options:

1. Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are the first line of treatment for astigmatism. These are also best when the condition is diagnosed in childhood. During an eye exam, the eye doctor will determine the degree of the condition, i.e., the degree of curvature. They will specifically design the prescription glasses to counteract the curve and bend the light into a single point instead of two different focal points causing distortion. Astigmatism also gets more severe as you age, so you would need a stronger prescription for your glasses.

2. Contacts

Corrective contacts are another treatment option, but lenses will not work well if the curvature is too slight. Generally, toric lenses can successfully counter the corneal curve, but your astigmatism must be at a particular stage to be corrected effectively with contacts. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses are hard or rigid lenses worn at night to alter the shape of your cornea and bring it back to a spherical shape. It’s important to note that contact lenses are often suitable for mild cases, but complicated cases may require more invasive procedures.

3. Surgery

Surgical options are very successful in treating astigmatism in adults and complicated cases. LASIK for astigmatism has a good track record for the same. It helps re-sculpt the affected cornea and make it spherical again. The surgeon makes a flap over the cornea, reshapes it, and replaces the flap, leaving it to heal under proper supervision. The procedure is pain-free and takes only around 30 minutes per eye, restoring your vision close to 20/20 or the same. Apart from LASIK, there are several other types of laser procedures for astigmatism. Discuss it with your doctor to determine your eligibility and the right option for your needs.

Experience the Maple Grove Difference

If you are suffering from astigmatism, the Maple Grove team can help provide you with the best care. We strive for the highest standards when it comes to choosing the right options for your eye health. We offer our patients the best possible outcomes using advanced tools and techniques. Call (763) 416-0622 and discover how we can help you correct your astigmatism.