Can LASIK fix Astigmatism?

The LASIK procedure is one of the most common eye surgeries to treat blurred vision due to myopia and hypermetropia. While treating short-sightedness and long-sightedness is the norm, the cases for astigmatism being treated by LASIK are a little less popular, this leads to doubts about whether LASIK can fix astigmatism or not. Before answering that question, let’s understand what exactly astigmatism is? Astigmatism is a surprisingly common eye problem that causes blurred vision in individuals. It happens when the cornea of your eyes is oval in shape rather than being a perfect circle or when the lens inside your eye is shaped asymmetrically. In both cases, the affected individual suffers from different types of astigmatism that cause vision problems. LASIK treatment of Astigmatism Yes, most cases of astigmatism can be treated with LASIK, with the procedure being permanently corrective. Similar to short-sightedness and long-sightedness, astigmatism is a refractive error rather than disease. People with astigmatism are usually assigned a cylindrical number for their corrective glasses. But, you can get rid of the prescription glasses with the help of LASIK. If a person’s cylindrical number is below 4, they are qualified to get this surgical treatment. Then, the laser used in LASIK can reshape your cornea into a more symmetrical or regular shape to fix blurred vision. For anyone with a more significant number, LASIK is not safe and has no guarantee of actually fixing the problem. In case an individual suffers from more than one refractive error, i.e. having myopia or hypermetropia along with astigmatism, the matters become a bit more complicated. The doctor again measures the power and check the eye’s eligibility for LASIK treatment. If the prescription number given to you is too high for either or both of the errors, you can’t have a successful surgery. Before going with LASIK as a treatment option, you have to be eligible to have it. Here are some cases in which you can’t have a LASIK surgery:

• If your corneas are too thin for the treatment.
• When your prescription is too strong or your number is too high.
• People who suffer from an autoimmune disorder can’t have LASIK treatments.
• If you suffer from dry eyes daily.
• You can also not have LASIK surgery if you have diseases like diabetes that slow down or hinder the body’s natural healing process.

While Lasik is not without its risks and some temporary side effects, it has been recognised as a simple yet effective treatment for astigmatism. LASIK done with the excimer laser is often mentioned as one of the best ways to fix astigmatism surgically. If you are suffering from blurred vision due to astigmatism, it is time to get a consultation with an ophthalmologist to discuss safe LASIK treatment options.