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Laser correction of astigmatism

In uncomplicated cases of astigmatism, glasses with cylindrical lenses or toric contact lenses will suffice. In more difficult cases, laser astigmatism correction is worthwhile.

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Astigmatics not only have problems seeing objects sharply regardless of their distance from the eye, but also complain of crooked and distorted images, poor contrast and an impaired sense of space. These troubles are due to defects in the structure of the cornea or lens. These defects are hereditary and our lifestyle does not have the slightest impact on the development of astigmatism.

Since the symptoms of astigmatism in children can be – from the parents’ point of view – very nonspecific (headaches, reluctance to read or problems with coordination), care should be taken to conduct preventive eye examinations in school-age children.

In uncomplicated cases of astigmatism, glasses with cylindrical lenses or toric contact lenses will suffice. In more difficult cases, laser astigmatism correction is worthwhile. Laser correction of astigmatism is performed using the following methods:

Femto-LASIK (All-Laser-LASIK): With a precise femtosecond laser, the surgeon makes a cut into the cornea, creating a thin flap 0.1 mm thick – a flap. He uses an excimer laser to reshape the previously exposed cornea for a few seconds, then the flap is closed back up; it attaches and forms a protective corneal barrier.
LASIK (laser assisted in situ keratomileusis): a two-step technique; the cornea is incised with a scalpel (microkeratome), and then the corneal surface is modeled so that it can properly focus the image onto the retina. LASEK/PRK: the procedure involves either deflecting (LASEK) or removing (PRK) the upper cellular layer of the cornea (epithelium) and then appropriately reshaping the underlying corneal tissue with an excimer laser. The goal of the procedure is to properly model the central surface of the cornea with a laser beam so that it focuses the image precisely on the retinal surface.

Astigmatism often accompanies myopia. Parallel light rays are refracted in two different planes (e.g., vertical and horizontal), resulting in out-of-focus images, curving and rippling, and poor contrast. If both defects are present together, either spherical-cylindrical spectacle lenses or toric contact lenses are used. However, the best solution is laser vision correction. The latest surgical technologies allow laser correction of astigmatism to be combined-that is, during the same procedure-with laser correction of myopia (farsightedness/dystopia )