Can I Get LASIK If I Have Astigmatism?

Dec 28, 2018

Eye Chart

A popular LASIK myth is that a patient can not get LASIK if they have astigmatism, but because of technology advancements, many patients with astigmatism are good candidates for LASIK.

What Is Astigmatism?

When a patient has astigmatism, their cornea is shaped like a football instead of being rounded. This causes distortion to both distance and close-up vision. Despite the intimidating name, astigmatism is not an eye disease. Astigmatism is just a refractive error, like nearsightedness or farsightedness. It can be treated with glasses or contacts, but it can be permanently corrected with LASIK surgery.

LASIK and Astigmatism

Thanks to advancements in laser technology, especially bladeless LASIK, patients who have astigmatism can now qualify for LASIK procedure. During the procedure, the corneal surface can be reshaped to be more spherical. Doing this corrects the astigmatism, which allows light rays to bend correctly when entering the eye, making the patient’s vision clearer.

If you have astigmatism and are tired of treating it with glasses or contacts, LASIK may be able to help permanently. To find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation!