Correcting Astigmatism with LASIK

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 20, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- LASIK vision correction reshapes the cornea of the eye so that you can see clearly without the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Not only is LASIK a treatment option for farsightedness and nearsightedness, LASIK can also correct the oval-shaped cornea that causes astigmatism. Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery, but an experienced ophthalmologist can determine the best way to correct your astigmatism, including considering alternative refractive eye surgeries like LASEK and PRK.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is the result of a misshapen cornea. The cornea should be shaped like a sphere, but astigmatic corneas are shaped like ovals. The result is that light is focused at multiple points instead of a single point, and vision is blurry at all distances. LASIK eye surgery lets you achieve a vision solution that is specially tailored to your unique vision with Wavefront technology.

Astigmatism can be a major hindrance to your day-to-day life. The constant use of eyeglasses and contact lenses can become inconvenient. LASIK eye surgery reshapes the cornea to a normal, spherical shape and enables you to see clearly without the continuous use of eyeglasses or contacts.

LASIK for Astigmatism Correction

LASIK vision correction is a long-term solution to astigmatism. During this safe, innovative procedure, your LASIK surgeon will make a small incision in your cornea, creating a corneal flap that is folded backward. With the middle portion of the cornea exposed, your LASIK surgeon will use a laser to reshape the cornea. After the reshaping, the flap is folded back over the cornea.
LASIK eye surgery has safely provided many people improved long-term vision. Some patients notice improvement immediately after the eye surgery, and optimum results are usually reached 6 months after LASIK eye surgery.

Am I a Candidate for LASIK?

LASIK eye surgery is an effective way to correct astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness, but not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. During a consultation, an experienced ophthalmologist can determine if LASIK is the best way to correct your astigmatism.
A number of factors go into determining if you are a candidate for LASIK eye surgery, including:

- You must be 18 to have LASIK eye surgery.
- Most doctors require that your prescription has remained stable for the past 1-2 years.
- No scarring can be present on your eye.
- You must not have had an eye infection in the past year.
- If you have dry eyes, LASIK may not be the best vision solution for you.

If you are not a candidate for LASIK eye surgery, your ophthalmologist may suggest an alternative, like advanced surface ablation.

LASIK eye surgery has helped many people with astigmatism achieve clearer vision. To learn more about LASIK vision correction in San Francisco, San Jose or Bay Area, California, please visit the website of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley at www.lasikdocs.com.

# # #