What is an Astigmatism?
A corneal curvature is also called astigmatism, which means that the cornea is not normal but deformed. Astigmatism is a common vision disorder, which is the cause of fuzzy visibility at any distance. Astigmatism often occurs in combination with short-sightedness or farsightedness.
Astigmatism is considered normal in the human eye of up to 0.5 diopters. The deformed cornea is mostly congenital, but in rare cases can develop only with time.
How does an Astigmatism Develop?
Normal Vision
Good vision requires a sharp image being produced on the retina at the back of the eye. The optical system (cornea, crystalline lens and vitreous body) of a normal eye diverts light rays in a way that they land exactly in focus at the point of best vision on the retina, the so-called makula. This diversion of light rays is called refraction. The total refractive power is expressed in diopters (D). The total refractive power is determined on the basis of the different parts of the optical system. When the total refraction is zero diopters, objects will be depicted sharply on the retina.
Astigmatism
Ideally the curvature of the cornea is shaped regularly like the surface of a ball. Astigmatism occurs when the corneal surface is more an irregular shape, more like that of an egg. Instead of gathering in a single point, light focuses at several different points both in front of and behind your retina, causing blurred vision. The light is refracted differently through the different curvatures of the cornea, e.g. vertical light rays are refracted differently than horizontal ones. This results in a distorted image, and a dot may appear as a line. The optical correction is made by changing the refractive power so that the two focal points are shifted exactly onto the retina – basically the same effect as can be achieved with a toric cylindrical lens.
How Can Astigmatism Be Optimally Treated?
Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery. Which treatment method is suitable to correct the visual defect depends on its shape and strength. Irregular astigmatism, for example, can not be corrected by regular glasses due to the irregular corneal curvature or an irregularly curved lens.
EuroEyes offers various laser procedures and lens treatments with which astigmatism – also in combination with farsightedness or nearsightedness – can be treated.
In order to determine which treatment method is suitable for the patient a thorough consultation and a detailed preliminary examination are always carried out before an intervention. Safety and diagnostics are in the foreground during the preliminary examination.
Astigmatism Treatment
With the help of the most modern laser procedures, such as SMILE Pro or the implantation of ICL contact lenses and intraocular lenses, EuroEyes can correct ametropia.
SMILE Pro
LEC as member of EuroEyes was one of the first clinics to bring in the next-generation Carl Zeiss Visumax-800 laser. This new laser machine represents a significant step forward from the previous model and is the only way to provide cutting-edge SMILE Pro treatment.
While the procedure has always been relatively quick and non-invasive, the new technology will make it even faster, more accurate and less stressful for our patients. The Visumax-800 uses digital mapping technology to orient the laser to the eye for precision targeting during treatment ensuring it is correctly oriented for optimal treatment.
Femto-LASIK
The modern, safe and individual laser eye procedure, Femto-LASIK corrects vision problems such as near and far-sightedness and astigmatism. The process involves two different lasers to reshape the cornea to correct visual acuity, in a painless and bladeless procedure.
We combine two of the most advanced and precise technologies: wavefront analysis and Femto-LASIK in order to perfectly tailor each treatment to the patient.
