Posted by: Manhattan LASIK Center

Nearly everyone has some level of astigmatism. Among these are people who do not wear glasses because they have good vision. This is because it is very rare to find someone with a perfectly shaped cornea. Everyone has some level of irregularity.
However, astigmatism is usually an eye condition where the cornea has an irregular shape. This causes vision to be blurry at any distance. It usually goes hand in hand with myopia or hyperopia.
For a long time, it was thought that astigmatism was not reversible. With the advancement of surgical laser procedures, this is no longer the case. However, the best laser procedure to deal with astigmatism is LASIK.

LASIK for Astigmatism

LASIK corrects astigmatism the same way it corrects myopia or hyperopia. During LASIK, a laser is used to reshape the cornea to correct the refractive error caused by astigmatism. To be a good candidate for LASIK, one must not have more than -11 diopters of nearsightedness, +5 diopters of farsightedness, and 5 diopters of astigmatism. Diopters are the measurement for astigmatism. The cornea also needs to be healthy and regular.

Other Factors That Make a Good Candidate

Eye prescriptions are just the beginning of the journey to getting LASIK. Our LASIK surgeons at Manhattan LASIK Center perform eye exams as part of our complimentary consultations. Other factors they consider as part of these eye examinations are:

  • The moisture content of the eye
  • Age (Must be 18 years and over)
  • The overall health of the eye. For example, the thickness of the cornea
  • Overall health (For example, patients with diabetes may not be eligible)
  • No change in eye prescription for the last 12 months
  • Goals for vision correction

Procedure

The LASIK procedure starts with numbing the eyes using numbing eye drops. This is done so that the equipment that stabilizes the eye does not bother the patient. This equipment keeps the patient from blinking during the procedure. It keeps the eye in the correct position.
During the procedure, the laser vision correction surgeon creates a thin flap with a hinge into the cornea. With a laser, the eye surgeon then removes inner layers and flatten the dome shape. Afterward, the LASIK surgeon repositions the flap and smoothens it. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, with 10 seconds of laser time per eye. Recovery is rapid and comfortable.

Recovery

LASIK is an in-office procedure, so patients can go home after the procedure. We recommend our patients arrange a friend to drive them home following the procedure. When they get home, we recommend they rest and allow their eyes time to heal. For several hours, there may be slight discomfort. It may take three to six months for the vision to stabilize. During this time, it is important to take the necessary medication and visit the eye doctor regularly for follow-up appointments.

Success Rate

LASIK has about a 90 percent success rate. Patients receive 20/20 or 20/40 vision after surgery. This includes the LASIK astigmatism success rate.

For more on LASIK and astigmatism, visit Manhattan Lasik Center in Paramus, New Jersey. You can call (201) 843-3861 to schedule a FREE Virtual consultation.