Astigmatism

What Is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is one of those strange terms that most people don't understand, so it sounds intimidating when an eye doctor tells you that you have it. For some, the term is more psychologically upsetting than it is optically troublesome.  It doesn't help that prescription contact lenses cost significantly more for people with astigmatism.

Let's clear up some of this confusion.

Astigmatism describes optical blur that arises when the curvature of the cornea is not equal on all sides. On a sphere, curvature is identical everywhere it is measured; therefore there is no astigmatism. Nearsightedness and farsightedness are spherical types of optical imperfection.

An easier way to think of it is to imagine the cornea of your eye being shaped more liek a football than a baseball.  This curvature results in a scattering of light rays when they enter your eye, causing teh blurring or 'double vision' we associate with astigmatism.  The amount of astigmatism present really explains the severity of the curve on the cornea.  

How Is Astigmatism Treated?

Regular astigmatism, may be corrected through:

• Prescription eyeglasses
• Prescription toric contact lenses or
• iLASIK
• Cataract (or PRELEX) surgery using an astigmatism-correcting toric lens implant ("IOL")

Lenses called 'toric lenses' are prescribed to correct astigmatism.   While myopia correcting lenses are spherical and concave, and hyperopia correcting lenses are spherical and convex, astigmatism correcting toric lenses are cylindrical in shape and more rigid to help refocus the cornea.

iLASIK can beautifully correct regular astigmatism, whether or not this is present in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Cataract and PRELEX patients who have astigmatism can be treated with a toric Intra-Ocular lens (IOL) implant during their cataract surgery to correct pre-existing astigmatism in combination with near or farsightedness.

Dr. Kevin Cuevas is one of the premier Colorado surgeons for surgically correcting astigmatim in patients.  He will review your case personally and carefully to recommend and treat you with the very best solution for your visual goals.


Contact our office today at (303) 384-3700, or Contact Us online to request a free astigmatism correction consultation.