LASIK for Astigmatism

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, more commonly known as LASIK, is a procedure that reshapes the cornea of the eye to correct refractive errors that cause an improper bending of light that enters the eyes. The three most common types of refractive errors are astigmatism, nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia). LASIK is an exceptional tool for vision correction, yet traditional techniques have some shortcomings. Dr. Aizuss addresses these limitations by offering LASIK procedures with the iDesign Advanced Wavescan Studio System.

How Does LASIK Correct Vision?

Refractive errors are caused by abnormalities in the cornea. These abnormalities bend the light in a way that interferes with the path to the back of the eye where the visual information is collected and sent to the brain for translation. The result is a blurry vision. LASIK works by correcting the shape of the cornea to improve visual acuity without glasses or contact lenses.

• Flattening the center of the cornea corrects nearsightedness or myopia
• Removing tissue from around the center of the cornea thus steepening the cornea helps with farsightedness or hyperopia
• Rounding out the cornea helps with astigmatism

Astigmatism offers unique challenges for LASIK procedures.

What is Astigmatism?

Everyone has some level of astigmatism in the cornea, but most people do not experience vision problems as a result. Astigmatism simply means that the cornea is not shaped like a perfect dome or sphere, it is shaped more like a football with two different curves. It is only of concern when the combination of astigmatism and nearsightedness or farsightedness work in combination to cause vision problems. Nearsightedness and farsightedness cause blurring, whereas astigmatism causes distortion which may also be perceived as blurring.

Advantages of the iDesign Advanced Wavescan Studio System for Astigmatism

Each person’s astigmatism is unique in the sense of how the cornea is distorted. Correcting corneal shape relies on 3D mapping that uses hundreds of data points. The number of data points that are collected by any given LASIK system may indicate the extent to which astigmatism can be corrected in a specific patient. The iDesign Advanced Wavescan Studio System excels above other systems in this regard. It gathers 1200 data points, thus allowing correction in patients who may not be good candidates for LASIK with other systems.

Learn More About LASIK for Astigmatism. Contact Dr. David Aizuss.

To learn more about LASIK vision correction, premium lens implants, treatments for diseases of the ocular surface and our other services, contact Dr. David Aizuss today to schedule a personal consultation. You can contact our office in Encino at (818) 907-1038 and our office in West Hills at (818) 346-8118.