ASTIGMATISM
Specialists with extensive experience in the operation of astigmatism in Madrid
Depending on the age of the patient and the type of astigmatism he presents after the ophthalmological study, we offer a solution according to your needs. In our eyphthalmology clinic we are specialists in astigmatism operation with refractive surgery.
WHAT IS ASTIGMATISM?
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error that occurs because the cornea is not a perfect spherical surface as a basketball would be, but rather resembles a rugby ball where a flat surface is is connected to a more curved surface.
This produces blurry images in the retina and even the sensation of objects lengthening or narrowing. This condition can affect both men and women at any age.
It is important to detect it at an early age to avoid amblyopia or lazy eye.
This produces blurred images on the retina and even the sensation that objects lengthen or narrow. This condition can affect both men and women at any age.
It is important to detect it at an early age to avoid amblyopia or lazy eye.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of astigmatism vary depending on each person, one of the main ones is to perceive blurred or distorted objects at any distance, both distant and close.
In addition, there are other symptoms of astigmatism that are linked to farsightedness. These are as follows:
- Eye fatigue or visual fatigue
- Eye discomfort and irritation
- Dizziness and headaches
This is due to the effort made by the eye to focus on images.
HOW IS ASTIGMATISM CORRECTED?
The astigmatism can be corrected with glasses and depending on the prescription it may or may not be necessary to correct it with refractive surgery, depending on the symptomatic degree, which includes headache, eye pain or blurred vision. If the myopia, hypermetropia and presbyopia are corrected with a lens called a spherical, astigmatism is corrected with a special lens called a toric lens that includes an axis. This is because like the cornea, this lens is designed with a more curved area and a flatter area.
Contact lenses and refractive surgery
Apart from glasses, astigmatism can be corrected with contact lenses and with refractive surgery. Having astigmatism is not exclusive of having other conditions such as myopia, hyperopia or presbyopia.
Contact lenses can correct astigmatism and its biggest drawback is its turns in the eye. A ballast prism is applied to avoid the rotation, which generally allows a good correction of astigmatism, but they are more uncomfortable than contact lenses without astigmatism.
ASTIGMATISM OPERATION WITH REFRACTIVE SURGERY
Refractive surgery is one of the methods that can be used to correct astigmatism since we can modify the shape and power of the cornea in different areas.
Using laser, the shape of the cornea is remodelled so that it is more symmetrical in order to eliminate any blurring problems that are usually associated with astigmatism. Vision is improved and more comfort is also provided.
Femtosecond laser surgery or PRK
Within the realm of refractive surgery, we have femtosecond laser surgery or PRK. Using this type of surgery, the laser evaporates corneal tissue, again giving the spherical shape to the cornea.
We also have other options depending on the patient as a solution to astigmatism.
ICL intraocular lens
The ICL intraocular lens is a safe option for the definitive treatment of astigmatism for those patients who are not suited to laser surgery. The ICL are lenses that are introduced into the anterior area of the lens, toric for people with astigmatism, and the parameters of the eye are carefully calculated. These lenses allow to correct astigmatism that LASIK or PRK cannot correct or are not safe according to the optimal corneal parameters ideal for this type of surgery.
In the case of cataracts, we need to replace the lens with intraocular lenses that, like glasses, can be toric.
As we can see, astigmatism is not one of the easiest ametropia or refractive defects to understand and treat, but thanks to advances not only in the field of glasses, but also in refractive surgery, it is increasingly possible to provide patients with better quality treatments for their vision and comfort.
At Martínez de Carneros clinic we have 2 centres in the Community of Madrid, with ophthalmologists and specialist surgeons, who will offer you a unique service for your astigmatism operation or for correction through contact lenses, always selecting the most appropriate treatment your eye needs.
