Coloured Contact Lenses

Eye Problems – Astigmatism

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a common eye problem in which a person’s cornea or lens has an irregular shape. These problems are known as Corneal astigmatism and Lenticular astigmatism respectively.

The cornea is a clear layer that completely covers the part of the eye that has color. Ideally, the shape of the cornea is round, like a tennis ball. The cornea’s job is to bend rays of light that enter the eye so that these light rays can be better focused on the lens enabling the retina to produce a clear image.

When the cornea has a more oval shape, like that of a football, light cannot focus properly. Instead of one focus point, as is what happens when the cornea is properly shaped, the misshapen cornea focuses light onto two areas of the retina. That is what results in blurred vision and/or the appearance of doubled vision.

Symptoms of Astigmatism

Blurred vision, ‘ghosting’ or images that are doubled are the most common symptoms of astigmatism. These types of vision problems occur at all distances. Fatigue, eye strain and frequent headaches are other symptoms that may indicate astigmatism.

Who is at risk?

The shape of the cornea can be affected by anything that causes the eyelids to exert excessive pressure on the cornea. Other risk factors for astigmatism include hereditary, poor posture and performing redundant and excessive amounts of up-close work. Those who are nearsighted or farsighted are also at higher risk of developing astigmatism. Other factors that can increase the appearance of astigmatism include head trauma or a cut, tear or scar on the cornea.

Keratoconus, a condition which over time causes the cornea to thin and take on a more cone shape can also cause astigmatism. This condition develops around puberty and affects more women than men. It’s also caused by excessive rubbing of the eyes.

Finally, diabetics are at increased risk of developing astigmatism as elevated blood-sugar levels can cause the shape of the lens to change.

Early Detection/Treatment of this eye problem.

A routine eye exam is the easiest way to detect astigmatism. The eye doctor will do a number of tests to determine vision clarity. To determine how light rays focus on the retina the eye doctor can perform a refractive evaluation. Reading the eye chart is a good way to determine visual acuity. Checking eye muscle performance, eye coordination and eye focusing capability are also part of a routine eye exam and can all help determine the presence and degree of astigmatism. Astigmatism is measured in terms of diopters and ranges from mild to severe.

Since astigmatism is an eye condition and not an eye disease, it is highly treatable. Common treatment options include corrective eye glasses and (toric) contact lenses.

Surgical treatment options have been highly successful at correcting the shape of the cornea. Photorefractive Keratectomy or PKR uses laser beams to change the cornea’s shape. LASIK surgery involves making small incisions on the sides of cornea using laser beams. With Radical Keratectomy, laser beam incisions are made into the cornea.

Whether you are going for a major surgery that involves an extended stay in a hospital or you are going to the eye doctors for lasik eye surgery, there are always risks involved and it is important to make sure that you have done your homework so that you are fully aware of what you are getting into. Lasik eye surgery side effects are a real thing and it is something that should be taken seriously as the side effects can be anywhere from inconvenient to very painful.

Whether you are taking the time to sit one on one with your eye care professional or you are just doing extensive research on the internet, it is important to make sure that all of your questions and concerns are addressed and answered in a way that you fully understand everything. Most of the procedures done are completed with excellent results and no troubles at all as lasik eye surgery side effects do not happen in most patients. This means your chance for actually being the person that ends up with laser eye surgery complications is small, but it is always present.

The Most Common Problems

The most complained about problem with lasik eye surgery side effects is that of regression. Regression is where your eyes slowly go back to having bad vision, which means that after the surgery, a person could find that they still need to have glasses or contacts. While this is not painful in any way, it can be extremely irritating after everything the person went through in hopes of having better vision. It also means more money and more chances or lasik eye surgery side effects if they want to go through the procedure a second time in hopes of getting it right.

One thing that could be very painful though is that of an infection as infections can cause the healing process to slow down a good bit. It can be messy and painful but normally not vision threatening. While these are the more common of the lasik eye surgery side effects, there are many more to read about.

Some of the side effects are so small that if a person did end up with them, they may not even notice. Either way, it is important to know everything there is to know about lasik eye surgery side effects before heading in to make your appointment. Being informed is the best thing you can do for your eyes and for your overall health.

lasik eye surgery side effects do not happen in most patients as most of the operations done are completed with excellent outcomes and no troubles at all. Also, visit www.lasereyesurgery.jsgenterprises.com.