As for correction of high astigmatism (>3.00 D), a recent study showed comparable results between SMILE and LASIK.
SMILE surgery has been extremely effective at treating astigmatism for years, but it is just now gaining popularity since it is now FDA approved! In fact, SMILE surgery is now the most advanced FDA approved laser vision correction treatment to date!
Close your eyes and keep your two fingers on each of your eyelids. By applying gentle pressure, slowly move your fingers in a circular motion from top to bottom and right to left. Move your fingers clockwise as well as anti-clockwise and repeat it for 10–15 times, 2 to 4 times a day.
SMILE specifically treats nearsightedness, or myopia. It can also correct astigmatism. It is considered less invasive than LASIK because it does not require creating a flap in the cornea to reshape it.
The risk of scarring is higher in LASIK than in SMILE. LASIK is not ideal in those with thin corneas. SMILE can be done in those with thin corneas. Both the procedures have good patient satisfaction, but the patient satisfaction of SMILE is slightly better.
Age can influence your candidacy for LASIK eye surgery, but it is by no means set in stone. In fact, there is no set age for LASIK eye surgery. Most LASIK eye surgeons, however, will not perform the procedure on those under the age of 18 as vision tends to keep changing into early adulthood.
The natural aging process or other eye conditions can cause the shape of the eye to gradually change, which can intensify astigmatism. However, progressing astigmatism can usually be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses, just like other progressing refractive errors.
What causes astigmatism? Astigmatism happens when your cornea or lens has a different shape than normal. The shape makes light bend differently as it enters your eye, causing a refractive error. Doctors don't know what causes astigmatism, and there's no way to prevent it.
Corrective Lenses
Glasses: Corrective glasses are the most common way to treat astigmatism. Astigmatism glasses look just like any other glasses. In cases of unusually high astigmatism, the edges of the glasses can appear thick. Glasses are only able to correct regular astigmatism, not irregular.
Many people believe that astigmatism is only can be corrected by medical intervention when it can easily be alleviated and even corrected through eye training exercises. In fact, there have been cases where with the right exercises in the right frequency yielded considerable results in just one day!
For most people, laser surgery corrects the astigmatism permanently, which means they are cured of this condition. Laser surgery requires very little time in the operating room and minimal recovery at home. Many people who undergo LASIK return to work a day or two after the procedure.
There are three options to correct astigmatism – glasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery. Prescription glasses or contact lenses can correct astigmatism (along with long-sightedness or short-sightedness, if necessary). Alternatively, laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism and give you clearer vision.
Several eye conditions are associated with astigmatism. The most common of these being a corneal thinning eye disease known as keratoconus. As the keratoconus progresses, it can cause astigmatism to get worse.
Astigmatism frequently worsens with age. Your cornea can become more irregular due to pressure from your eyelids as they lose muscle tone. Astigmatism generally stays stable until your turn 50. After then, your lens curvature progressively worsens each decade.
Effects of Astigmatism on Visual Impairment
Whether you're born with it or it develops later in life, the symptoms of astigmatism generally include the following: Blurry vision. Trouble seeing objects both close up and far away. Fluctuating vision.
Astigmatism is common in infants and often clears up on its own by the time a child is one year old. Children with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) are more likely to have astigmatism. Astigmatism affects Hispanic children at higher rates than other children.
Astigmatism is a common refractive error, occurring in about 1 in 3 of all people. Astigmatism is often present at birth but it can also develop over time, and most often occurs with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).
In most people, astigmatism stops progressing at age 25, but there are issues that can cause astigmatism to worsen over time, such as chronic infections, corneal trauma, and keratoconus.
Astigmatism will not go away on its own. It will either stay the same or get worse with age. While this reality can seem daunting, the good news is that it can be easily corrected.
Yes, you can develop astigmatism as you get older. A study showed that 1 in 4 people between 25 and 59 years old had astigmatism. But in people over the age of 60, that number doubles to 1 in 2 people. This happens because the shape of the cornea and lens can change as you age.
The lack of flap creation in SMILE has some benefits, such as less risk of dry eye or flap complications. However, patients may have a slightly longer trajectory to full visual recovery after SMILE vs. LASIK. Ultimately, both SMILE and LASIK are safe procedures.
Any treatment includes a risk of infection. SMILE infection risks are much smaller than most surgical procedures, but the risk does exist. Infections are usually curable when caught early, so it's important to be on the lookout for symptoms.