Astigmatism is a common condition in which the cornea of the eye has a shape similar to that of a football, rather than a normal corneal shape resembling a baseball. Because the cornea is oddly shaped, light bends unequally as it enters the eye, causing vision distortion or blurriness.

Many who suffer from astigmatism do not know that it can often be corrected with LASIK eye surgery. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a popular form of laser eye surgery that reshapes the inner layer of the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. LASIK eye surgery has proven to be an effective treatment for many patients with mild or moderate astigmatism. LASIK is also a convenient option for many other people, even if they don’t have astigmatism.

LASIK for astigmatism is accomplished by smoothing out the irregularities of the cornea at the precise points of the astigmatism, therefore allowing light to focus correctly on the retina. During the LASIK procedure in Billings, pulses of cool, ultra-violet light are emitted from a computer-guided laser to remove corneal cells according to your unique prescription.

There may be some patients with severe astigmatism that do not qualify for LASIK surgery. Many people suffering from astigmatism are children and it is recommended that LASIK patients be over the age of 18 years old to ensure that their refractive error has stabilized.

Depending on the type and severity of astigmatism, as well as other factors, your surgeon may be able to treat your eyes with LASIK. To find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, Contact The Eye Clinic Surgicenter at 406-252-6608 or theeyeclinicsurgicenter.com to schedule a consultation.