Astigmatism is a common vision condition that blurs one's eyesight. It is needless to say that a person's daily life becomes a struggle with this condition.
So, if you or a loved one have this condition, it's high time you understand what it is, its symptoms, possible causes, and the best treatment options.
So, let's dive in
Astigmatism is a refractive error, where the shape of your eye - specifically the cornea or lens - becomes more curved than usual. The normal eye shape is round, like a baseball.
Thus, the entered light gets bent unevenly, which causes blurry and distorted vision at all distances.
There are different kinds of astigmatism, as follows:
It's the most common type in young individuals and is corrected using eyeglasses, contact lenses, and corrective surgeries. In this, the two principal meridians - imaginary perpendicular lines in the eye - are 90 degrees apart. One is way steeper than the other.
In this, the two principal meridians are not in symmetry at all. This makes the curvature uneven. It is more difficult to correct than regular astigmatism.
There are also conditions where astigmatism is combined with:
To know whether you have astigmatism, it's best to schedule yourself for an eye examination at a reputed eye hospital.
However, you can also notice it through the following symptoms:
If you have mild astigmatism, these symptoms may not be obvious. Only regular eye check-ups can help you detect this condition.
The exact cause of astigmatism is still unknown. Some say that it's a result of:
Astigmatism can be treated in the following ways:
This is the most common way to correct astigmatism. Usually, you'll be prescribed a cylindrical lens that fixes the uneven curves of your eye cornea or lens. People with severe cases of astigmatism are better off with glasses than contact lenses.
If the astigmatism isn't that severe, you can also opt for contact lenses. There are different options for this:
Several corrective/refractive surgeries also help this eye condition. Let's know the best of them.
LASIK is one of the most renowned blade-free eye corrective surgeries of all time. In this, a thin flap is created on your cornea using a femtosecond laser.
After lifting this flap, the corneal tissue is reshaped with a programmed laser according to your refractive error. Then, the flap is placed back in its position to heal without stitches.
The overall surgery takes about 30 minutes for both eyes. It helps you regain 20:20 vision within a few days. You can even resume driving after 24 hours. However, complete healing takes about 2-3 months.
PRK was the first and original laser eye surgery which was later replaced by LASIK. It's especially an alternative to LASIK if you have thinner corneas, suffer from dry eyes, or play sports with direct contact with your eyes.
The process includes a surgeon removing epithelial cells from the surface layer of your cornea. Then, a cool excimer laser reshapes the cornea as required for correction.
Post-surgery, a "bandage" contact lens is placed over your eyes. This is removed after 5-7 days to help your eyes heal.
Surgery procedure takes about 15 minutes for both eyes, but total healing may take 2-4 weeks at least and 3-6 months at most.
You can resume strenuous activities after a week. The light sensitivity ends after around 10 days. Any water-related activities like taking hot baths, swimming in pools or natural bodies can be resumed after 2 weeks.
This newest laser surgery option treats astigmatism up to 6D and is already doing great wonders for people. The minimally invasive surgery needs advanced imaging technology, which results in great precision and accuracy.
In this, a surgeon creates a small and thin lens-shaped disc aka lenticule with a laser and removes it through a corneal incision. The cornea is then reshaped and flattened to correct vision.
The flapless surgery offers quick recovery, utmost comfort, supervision of 6/5 (which is better than regular vision), and lower complication risks.
Overall, SILK surgery takes about 15 minutes for both eyes. The recovery is superfast - you can resume daily activities after 24 hours and use digital devices (smartphones, laptops, etc.) after 2 days.
Astigmatism is an annoying vision condition, but it's not impossible to correct. There are a wide range of solutions for it. So, contact a reputed ophthalmologist and identify a solution right away!
