Treatment for Astigmatism
Astigmatism varies from mild to severe. Mild cases may not require treatment. There are different methods of treatment that your doctor would recommend, they include:
Corrective lenses
Your doctor would prescribe corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses. These are the most common and least invasive treatments for astigmatism.
(Ortho-K) Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology [4] (Ortho-K) is a medical procedure that temporarily adjusts the uneven curvature of your cornea using hard contact lenses. You’ll only use hard contact lenses sometimes. They can be worn while you sleep and taken off during the day.
Following Ortho-K, some patients experience clear vision all day long without the use of corrective lenses. Only when using Ortho-K can you experience its advantages. After discontinuing Ortho-K, your vision will recover to its prior condition.
Cataract surgery
If your condition is serious, your doctor might suggest refractive surgery. In this kind of surgery, your cornea will be reshaped using lasers or tiny knives. Your astigmatism will be permanently fixed by doing this.
There are other surgeries for astigmatism, including:
- Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)
- Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)
- Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK)
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
- Epi-LASIK
All surgeries carry some risks. Discuss with your doctor about the risks and which is more beneficial for you.