Astigmatism Lasik Surgery FAQ

Astigmatism, a common hereditary vision disorder, occurs when the cornea is not shaped properly. Ordinarily, the cornea should be round. When you have astigmatism, the cornea is shaped more like a football. Astigmatism results in blurry vision. It can be corrected with contact lenses, glasses and Lasik surgery.

Lasik Procedure

• The Lasik procedure involves numbing the eyes with medicated drops and then inserting an eyelid holder to prevent blinking. Next, the doctor pushes a thin flap of corneal tissue back so that the laser can remove some of the corneal tissue to create a more spherical shape. The doctor folds the thin flap down over the eye, and it adheres naturally onto the surface.

Recovery

• Vision will be blurry for a few days following surgery. You may experience irritation or slight pain for approximately 12 to 24 hours after the surgery. You may also have a burning or itching sensation. Any pain or irritation beyond 24 hours should be reported to your eye doctor.

  Vision should stabilize within six months of surgery.

Warnings

• Do not rub your eyes after Lasik surgery. Rubbing the eyes can move the corneal flap created during surgery. If the corneal flap is moved or damaged, more surgery may be needed.

Outcome

• The goal of Lasik is correct vision to 20/20, and in most cases Lasik corrects vision adequately. However, in some cases vision may not be corrected as much as needed. In these cases, glasses or contacts may still be needed to obtain 20/20 vision. Also, some results from Lasik may not be permanent, and future Lasik procedures may be required to maintain 20/20 vision.

Possible Risks

• Lasik surgery carries risks. Some patients may experience irreversible partial vision loss. Others may have have vision disturbances such as double vision, glared vision and impaired night vision. Also, some people may develop dry eye syndrome after having a Lasik procedure.