Overview: What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common and treatable eye imperfection (refractive error) characterised by a curved lens or cornea. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea (front surface of the eye) or the lens (inside the eye) has mismatched curves. The curvature is usually mismatched (steep in one direction compared to another), resulting in blurred near or distant vision1.
- Astigmatism is a common vision condition that can occur from birth.
- However, the condition can present itself alongside nearsightedness or farsightedness.
- It may not be very pronounced in some instances to warrant corrective action.
- When it affects the lens, it’s referred to as lenticular astigmatism.
- When it affects the cornea, it’s known as corneal astigmatism.
What Causes Astigmatism to Worsen?
Astigmatism is worsened by natural aging, which causes gradual changes in the shape of the eyes2.
Main Symptoms of Astigmatism
Besides signs like blurry vision, other symptoms of astigmatism include3:
- Distorted vision or fuzzy vision
- Eye irritation
- Eye discomfort
- Headaches
- Eye pain
- Squinting
- Night vision difficulties
As mentioned, astigmatism may not be so pronounced to warrant treatment. When it is, there are effective treatment options like laser vision correction.
Laser Vision Correction and Astigmatism: Can Laser Eye Surgery Correct Astigmatism?
Yes! Laser eye surgery can be a great option to treat astigmatism. In this regard, there are two main laser eye surgery options.
a. LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK surgery can be defined as a laser vision correction procedure that reshapes the cornea. The surgery treats several eye conditions linked to refractive errors i.e., astigmatism, as well as far-sightedness (hyperopia) and near-sightedness (myopia).
However, this type of laser eye surgery is not always the most effective one. In fact, LASIK eye surgery is best recommended for short-sightedness (myopia).
What’s more, LASIK eye surgery can cause complications. Since the surgery is invasive in nature (involves cutting a flap of the cornea before reshaping with laser and replacing the flap), it comes with complications of corneal flap procedures i.e., they don’t heal completely, making them unsuitable for people like athletes and firefighters whose jobs include activities with a high risk of impact on their eyes. LASIK isn’t a permanent solution to astigmatism.
Furthermore, most people aren’t ideal candidates for LASIK eye surgery. If you have dry eyes or a thin/flat cornea, you may not be able to get LASIK. Luckily, there are other laser eye surgery treatments. No-cut eye surgery, for example, can be a better alternative. The surgery is non-invasive (safer) and more affordable.
b. No-Cut Eye Surgery
No-Cut laser eye surgery (or laser epithelial keratectomy) is the latest, most modern vision correction procedure currently. The procedure treats the cornea surface as opposed to cutting into it. This makes the procedure the safest of its kind. When compared to older laser corrective procedures like LASIK, no-cut eliminates most, if not all the potential risks. The treatment is also effective in treating astigmatism as well as hyperopia and myopia.
How Does Eye Surgery for Astigmatism (No-Cut Eye) Work?
As the name suggests, the procedure doesn’t involve any blade or laser cuts to the cornea. No-Cut eye surgery means no flap. In No-Cut surgery, a specialized laser reshapes astigmatism (the refractive error) directly. Considering most laser eye surgery complications are flap-related, this makes no-cut the safest laser eye surgery out there.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for Laser Eye Surgery (No-Cut)?
Anyone who wears corrective lenses (contact lenses or glasses) is an ideal candidate for no-cut laser surgery.
If you suffer from any refractive eye conditions, and you are an adult (18 years or above) in good general health, you are an ideal candidate. No-cut laser surgery can also be for individuals who don’t have eye disease and have a stable corrective eyeglass prescription (within operable range).
Furthermore, you are still an ideal candidate for No-Cut laser surgery even if you have dry eyes or a flat/thin cornea. This isn’t the case for LASIK or other traditional laser eye surgeries. No-Cut is also perfect for individuals who lead an active lifestyle and/or have a high risk of eye trauma i.e., athletes, firefighters, martial arts professionals, etc.
Main takeaways
- In a nutshell, laser eye surgery, specifically no-cut laser eye surgery, treats astigmatism effectively.
- It is also a great option to deal with other eye imperfections related to refractive errors.
- No-cut laser eye surgery is a very safe procedure. It utilises advanced laser technology to reshape astigmatism without cutting the cornea.
- This no-flap procedure eliminates flap-related complications linked to traditional laser eye procedures.
- Complete healing is possible as opposed to procedures like LASIK.
- No-cut is also ideal for correcting more eye conditions and it’s more affordable than LASIK and other traditional laser procedures.
No-Cut Laser Surgery in Toronto for Astigmatism: Goldberg Centre
Those seeking No-Cut eye surgery in Toronto can consider renowned vision centres like Goldberg Centre. The Vision Centre is led by Dr. Goldberg with over 42 years of vision correction experience.
There are other reasons to select Goldberg Centre as your preferred vision centre for astigmatism treatment, such as:
- No compromise whatsoever on your eye health: Treatment is done exclusively by Dr. Goldberg from initial consultation to follow-up visits.
- Treatment via No-Cut laser eye surgery: The vision centre offers only the newest and safest laser eye surgery technology. No-flap – no cuts to the cornea.
- Advanced safety tests: Goldberg uses highly advanced screening methods i.e., ORA to boost safety. ORA (or Ocular Response Analyzer) measures corneal hysteresis – the biomechanical properties of the cornea offering accurate details on cornea thickness, strength, and rigidity. This allows for unmatched precision and safety during treatment.
- FREE initial consultation: Claim a free virtual or in-clinic consultation that is non-obligatory and doesn’t involve hard selling.
- Incredible savings: Enjoy competitive pricing (more affordable than LASIK). What’s more, get interest-free financing options, payment plans & promotions. Book a FREE consultation to discover the exact cost of No-Cut laser eye surgery in Toronto.
References
[1] Mayoclinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/astigmatism/symptoms-causes/syc-20353835
[2] Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8576-astigmatism
[3] Mayoclinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/astigmatism/symptoms-causes/syc-20353835