Suffering from astigmatism? Then, you are probably looking for the right treatment for it. And, if you are not sure about what you are supposed to do and where you are supposed to go, then, this blog is here to help you.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a vision disorder that occurs when the cornea is irregularly shaped or because of the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregularly shaped cornea or an abnormal curvature prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, thus resulting in a blurred vision, leading to eye discomfort and headaches. Astigmatism could be a hereditary condition, which is generally present from birth, but increases or decreases over time. However, astigmatism may also develop after an eye injury.
What to do if you experience symptoms of astigmatism?
If you feel symptoms of blurred vision, eye discomfort, and headache, you could probably be suffering from astigmatism. You must immediately get in touch with a professional eye doctor then to have your eyes diagnosed and identify the problem. A comprehensive optometric examination will help test for astigmatism. The doctor will help detect your problem through various procedures like visual acuity, topography, and refraction.
How to treat astigmatism?
Once astigmatism is identified, the doctor will provide a treatment option depending upon your particular condition. The basic treatment options include wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses that can alter the way light enters the eyes to correct astigmatism. The doctor may also suggest a corneal procedure called orthokeratology, which is a non-invasive procedure that requires the patient to wear a series of specially-designed rigid contact lenses to gradually reshape the curvature of the cornea.
Can cataract surgery correct astigmatism?
One of the most recent types of procedures that is being used today to correct astigmatism is cataract surgery. This is for those who plan to undergo a cataract surgery to solve cataracts, and are also suffering from astigmatism. The removal of the cloudy lens in a cataract surgery can improve the vision that has been blurred due to the formation of cataracts, but if the vision is still blur, it may be due to astigmatism. The good news is that this astigmatism can also be corrected with cataract surgery. In fact, research has shown that astigmatism left untreated at the time of cataract surgery tends to worsen after the surgery. Thus, you need to definitely resolve both cataracts and astigmatism if you are undergoing a cataract surgery.
What is the procedure?
During the surgery, the doctor can alter the shape of the cornea by making a small incision in the cornea, allowing it to reconfigure and increase the roundness. The curvature, when matches the implanted lens, results in significantly improved vision; thus eliminating the need for eyeglasses. Hence, you need to just spend a few minutes extra after your cataract surgery to get rid of astigmatism; receiving double results with only a single procedure. It is thus wise to consider this option before you sit for the surgery if you want a successful cataract operation. Get in touch with Arohi Eye Hospital to have your eyes thoroughly checked before the surgery to indentify all the possible eye problems you may have, only after which you can have the best cataract surgery in Mumbai conducted on your eyes.
Dr. Shradha Goel
Dr. Shradha Goel, Chief Surgeon at Arohi Eye Hospital, is a renowned Phaco-LASIK surgeon with over 10,000 surgeries to her credit. She earned her MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and a Master’s in Ophthalmology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. As a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Goel specialises in LASIK, refractive errors, and cataract treatments.