Do you have astigmatism? Are you tired of relying on glasses or contact lenses to see clearly?
With a vision correction procedure like LASIK, PRK, or EVO ICL, you can correct astigmatism and significantly reduce or eliminate your dependence on visual aids. But which procedure is right for you?
Keep reading to learn more about vision correction for astigmatism and whether you should get LASIK, PRK, or EVO ICL.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common refractive error typically caused by irregularities in the shape of your cornea. The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped layer at the front of your eye.
Usually, it has a spherical shape, like a basketball. This allows the cornea to bend light entering your eye and focus it accurately on the retina for clear vision.
With astigmatism, the cornea takes the shape of a football rather than being round like a basketball. The irregular curvature prevents the cornea from refracting light correctly.
As a result, light doesn’t focus sharply on the retina, causing blurred, distorted vision. You can also have astigmatism alongside other refractive errors like farsightedness or nearsightedness.
Which Vision Correction Procedures Can Correct Astigmatism?
Astigmatism can be successfully treated with any of these procedures:
LASIK
LASIK is a vision correction procedure that treats astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. During the procedure, your LASIK surgeon will use a femtosecond laser to create a flap in the epithelium or outermost layer of the cornea.
They’ll then gently lift and fold back the flap to reshape the underlying corneal tissue with an excimer laser programmed with your eye measurements. This involves removing microscopic amounts of corneal tissue to give your cornea a more even shape, treating your astigmatism.
Once done, your surgeon will carefully reposition the flap, which will act as a natural bandage while your eye heals. LASIK recovery is fast, with most patients typically noticing visual improvements after one to three days.
PRK
PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, corrects refractive errors in the same way as LASIK. However, unlike LASIK, which involves making a flap in the cornea, PRK completely removes the epithelium.
This makes it a better option for patients who can’t undergo LASIK due to corneas that are too thin. After completely removing the epithelium, your surgeon will reshape your cornea with a programmed excimer laser, correcting your astigmatism and other refractive errors.
Finally, your surgeon will place a contact lens bandage over the eye to protect it as it heals. Recovery after PRK takes longer than LASIK because it takes time for the epithelium to regenerate.
EVO ICL
The EVO ICL is an additive implantable collamer lens that corrects nearsightedness and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK or PRK, it doesn’t entail the removal of corneal tissue.
During the EVO ICL procedure, your surgeon creates a tiny incision in your cornea and carefully positions the lens between the iris and the natural lens of your eye. No stitches are needed, as the incision made will heal on its own.
The implanted, biocompatible lens compensates for the uneven curvature of a cornea with astigmatism, eliminating the effects of the refractive error. It works in harmony with your eye’s focusing system to deliver sharp, crisp vision.
How Can You Determine the Right Vision Correction Procedure for You?
Before undergoing a vision correction procedure, you will need to attend a consultation with your eye doctor at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute. They will take measurements of your cornea, perform an eye exam, and ask questions about your medical history, lifestyle, and visual goals.
Ultimately, your eye doctor will determine your candidacy for each procedure, but the ideal candidates typically fall within these general guidelines:
LASIK Candidacy
You could be a good LASIK candidate if:
- Your corneas are thick enough to safely create the flap necessary for LASIK
- You have astigmatism and/or nearsightedness and farsightedness within the range that LASIK can correct
- You’re not pregnant or nursing
- You do not have conditions like diabetes and autoimmune disorders that can make it challenging for your eye to heal
- Your prescription has remained stable for at least a year
- You do not have glaucoma, cataracts, or severe dry eye
- You’re 18 years or older
As the most popular vision correction procedure, LASIK has provided millions with crystal-clear vision and freedom from visual aids.
PRK Candidacy
PRK has many of the same qualification requirements as LASIK. However, because PRK doesn’t involve creating a corneal flap, it may be an excellent alternative if you don’t qualify for LASIK because of the following:
- You have thin corneas
- You play contact sports such as martial arts, ice hockey, or boxing
- Your occupation puts you at higher risk of eye injury like a pilot, firefighter, or military personnel
While many athletes praise LASIK for the advantages clear vision gives them on the field, if you play contact sports or perform a job that comes with a higher risk of injury, PRK is often a better choice. This is because the corneal flap made during LASIK could become loose in the case of an eye injury and negatively impact your vision.
EVO ICL Candidacy
Your ophthalmologist may recommend EVO ICL if you’re not a good candidate for LASIK because of:
- Severe dry eye
- Thin corneas
- Severe nearsightedness beyond what LASIK and PRK can correct
EVO ICL candidacy is similar to LASIK and PRK candidacy with a few key differences:
- You have astigmatism and/or nearsightedness, as EVO ICL cannot correct farsightedness
- You’re between 21 and 45 years old
A significant reason more and more patients are choosing the EVO ICL for their vision correction procedure is its reversibility. As it does not reshape any part of the eye, this additive lens can be removed at any time by your surgeon at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute, giving you peace of mind going into the procedure.
See the World with Brand New Eyes
LASIK, PRK, and EVO ICL are clinically proven, effective, and safe procedures that can give patients with astigmatism clearer, crisper vision without depending on visual aids. At a vision correction consultation, Dr. Herschel can thoroughly assess your eyes and recommend the most effective procedure to optimize your visual outcome.
Are you considering vision correction for astigmatism? Schedule an appointment at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute in Orlando, FL, today to discover which procedure is right for you!
