LASIK has become the most common corrective eye surgery. Both nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia) can be treated with LASIK eye surgery, which we offer at Chapel Hill Ophthalmology. However, our patients often wonder if this surgery is appropriate for astigmatism.
Astigmatism is a refractive vision error caused by abnormalities in either an eye’s cornea or lens. It's possible to have astigmatism and also be either nearsighted or farsighted. If you think you might benefit from LASIK, rest assured that this procedure corrects many kinds of refractive vision errors, including astigmatism.
How LASIK Helps Astigmatism
LASIK eye surgery involves a laser that carefully reshapes a person’s cornea. Reshaping the cornea enables your eye to focus properly, alleviating some vision problems associated with astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia.
For those who aren't good candidates for LASIK eye surgery, such as those who have thin corneas, our eye doctor might suggest an alternative form of surgery such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). During LASIK surgery, a flap is cut in the outer layers of the eye and folded to the side. This is done so that the eye can be reshaped, after which the flap is replaced to reduce healing time. PRK surgery involves the removal of the top layer of the cornea, the epithelium, in order to access and reshape the eye. If your corneas are too thin for this flap to be created, PRK may be a better treatment for you than LASIK.
See Better in Chapel Hill, NC
If you need a new eye doctor, call Chapel Hill Ophthalmology today to schedule an appointment. We provide many eye care services, including multiple forms of laser eye surgery.