Astigmatism Treatments

Astigmatism is one of the more common visual problems and usually goes hand in hand with farsightedness or nearsightedness. It can result from a cornea that is unusually shaped or more rarely when the lens located behind the cornea is similarly abnormal.Many people may have very mild astigmatism don’t even realise it. Most sufferers only experience some distortion or blurring of their vision at near and far distances while others can experience headaches and eyestrain. 

Children are just as likely to develop astigmatism as adults, although kids will of course be less aware that they have a problem with their eyesight.  Laser eye surgery can be an extremely effective treatment since the most common cause is an irregularly shaped cornea: more like a rugby ball than a sphere. This means light focuses on two points at the back of the eye instead of a just one, resulting in blurred vision.  Surgery for astigmatism is a simple and painless procedure using IntraLASIK techniques.This uses two lasers: the firts creates a small and precise flap in the cornea and the second to smooth out and reshape the cornea itself underneath this flap, which is then replaced.Other treatment options may include implantation of a phakic lens or an implantable contact lens with the correct astigmatic correction.

The condition known as keratoconus too results from an abnormally shaped cornea.  It is an inherited condition that sometimes skips generations and onset usually occurs during puberty.In this case, the shape of the cornea is distorted over time into a cone-shaped bulge.The earlier the onset of keratoconus, the faster it progresses, so treating as early as possible is essential.  Fortunately, keratoconus treatment is quick, simple and very effective and can involve eyeglasses or rigid contact lenses in the early stages. More advanced techniques using Corneal Collagen Cross linking with Riboflavin can increase the strength of the cornea and prevent progress.

Advice For Treating Cataracts

What is a cataract? A cataract is the result when the lens of an eye becomes damaged. A tell-tale sign of a cataract is a “cloudiness” of vision, which is due to the proteins in the eye become changed. If you suffer with a cataract, it is wise to gather as much information as possible about how to treat a cataract.

The most common operation used to treat cataracts is a simple and straightforward form of cataract laser surgery. This surgery basically removes the cloudy lens and may implant a new one. You do not have to wait for the problem to become extremely severe before opting to go in for surgery either. An eye specialist will give you some professional advice and help guide you to the right form of treatment. The operation is formed in only one day and you will not be required to remain in hospital overnight.

One of the most notable perks of having cataract surgery is that your eyesight improves as soon as the surgery is over! Obviously, your eye(s) will need time to heal, and 100% vision clarity may take a few months to achieve because of this. However, a pair of glasses (with a new prescription, of course) would suffice until your vision is completely restored.

Your doctor may require you to administer eye drops for a course of eight weeks, just to make sure that your eye does not sustain any infection as a result of the surgery. It is imperative that you keep your eye as clean as possible, which means avoiding eye make-up and, whenever possible, making sure that soap does not get in your eye (although that’s not very fun even without having had surgery!).

You must bear in mind that any kind of surgery carries some risks, but very few patients actually have any serious complications when undergoing this surgery. Any kind of serious health treatment comes with some degree of risk, but simple surgery has been proven to cure cataracts in almost all cases.