Astigmatism

Patients with nearsightedness and farsightedness often also have astigmatism. As astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea; instead of being round like a basketball, the cornea is shaped like a football. This can make your vision blurry. Astigmatism management is a vital new area of cataract surgery. Your vision is potentially affected by two types of astigmatism: corneal and lenticular. Both can be corrected with new astigmatism management tools.

The most advanced method to correct pre-existing astigmatism during cataract surgery uses a new type of lens implant which incorporates unique optics to compensate for specific deficiencies in your vision. This lens greatly reduces the need for a second procedure after cataract surgery to correct residual astigmatism.

In addition to astigmatism-treating IOLs, astigmatism can be reduced by glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery (Lasik or PRK). A limbal relaxing incision (LRI) is a small cut or incision your surgeon makes into your cornea to make its shape rounder and can be done at the same time as the cataract operation or as a separate procedure. Any attempt at astigmatism reduction could result in over- or under-correction, in which case glasses, contact lenses, or another procedure may be needed.