Can LASIK correct astigmatism?

LASIK is highly effective at correcting astigmatism, often in the same procedure that treats nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Understanding Astigmatism

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea (or lens) has an irregular shape:

• Instead of being round like a basketball, it's shaped like a football
• Light focuses at multiple points instead of one
• Results in blurred or distorted vision at all distances

How LASIK Corrects Astigmatism

The excimer laser selectively removes tissue to:

• Flatten steeper areas of the cornea
• Create a more uniform, spherical shape
• Allow light to focus at a single point on the retina

FDA-Approved Treatment Range

• Up to 6.00 diopters of astigmatism
• Can be combined with myopia or hyperopia correction
• Wavefront-guided LASIK provides enhanced precision

Success Rates for Astigmatism

• Over 95% achieve significant improvement
• Most patients achieve 20/20 or better
• Higher astigmatism may have slightly lower success rates
• Some may need enhancement for fine-tuning

Special Considerations

Irregular astigmatism (from injury, disease, or previous surgery) may:

• Require specialized topography-guided treatment
• Be better treated with other procedures
• Need careful evaluation

High astigmatism patients should discuss:

• Wavefront-guided vs. wavefront-optimized
• Potential for undercorrection
• Enhancement possibility