What Success Rate Can You Expect with LASIK for Astigmatism?

December 24th, 2018
smiling african american woman in glasses

Despite what you may have heard, the success rate of LASIK for patients with astigmatism is higher than you think.

Astigmatism, a common eye condition that occurs when the normally spherical cornea takes on a conical shape, can make it difficult for patients to focus on objects in their field of vision. Because this distortion causes incoming light to refract in more than one direction, it can cause your eyesight to become blurry and wavy.

While astigmatism can be either hereditary or develop as a result of aging, external pressure on the cornea, poor posture, or taxing the use of the eyes for work, it’s a reality for about one in three people. Glasses and contact lenses may help correct a single axis of the visual field for patients looking to fix their astigmatism, but procedures such as LASIK — depending on a number of factors that vary from one patient to the next — are typically the best way to find long-lasting relief.

How LASIK Can Help People with Astigmatism

If you’re looking for permanent vision correction because of astigmatism, LASIK can be a straightforward solution. The procedure involves a surgeon making an incision in the eye, allowing them to then use a state-of-the-art laser to reshape the cornea back into its optimal, spherical shape.

By reshaping the cornea like this, surgeons can fix the refractive issues that make it difficult for people with astigmatism to focus on objects in their field of vision. The procedure is a quick one, too, with patients usually back home the same day and enjoying the benefits of LASIK within one or two days.

LASIK Success Rates with Astigmatism

LASIK is one of the most common elective procedures performed in the United States, helping millions of people experience the benefits of surgical vision correction. Even patients suffering from pronounced astigmatism can correct their vision.

However, because of the complexity of astigmatism, it’s not uncommon for some patients to need more than one surgery in order to fix every aspect of their vision. People with the most severe types of this condition may have to come in for more than one round of LASIK to experience complete relief.

Speaking with a LASIK Expert

If you’ve been experiencing headaches, fatigue, eyestrain, and blurred vision from your astigmatism, it may be time to reach out to an eye care specialist. By receiving a comprehensive eye exam that measures the severity of your astigmatism and any extenuating circumstances, you and an expert can determine whether LASIK is right for you. For patients interested in LASIK, consider scheduling an appointment with ICON Eyecare to learn more. With our team of experienced staff, we can help you understand the benefits of LASIK and develop a plan to correct your astigmatism