Astigmatism - specialists and information on astigmatism

With astigmatism, the cornea of the eye has an irregular shape. As a result, the incident light is not focused correctly. Patients suffer from distorted and blurred vision. There are various ways to treat astigmatism. Other names for astigmatism are astigmatism or astigmatism.

Below you will find further information and selected specialists for astigmatism.

Patients with astigmatism usually have it from birth. You should compensate for astigmatism as early as possible with glasses or contact lenses.

You can also have surgery to correct astigmatism. This is usually done using a laser, and a corneal transplant is also possible. Normally, astigmatism does not change on its own and remains constant.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is also commonly known as astigmatism or astigmatism. These terms are not entirely correct, as astigmatismcan also have other causes. Nevertheless, astigmatism is the most common cause of astigmatism.

In astigmatism, the cornea of the eye is deformed. As a result, the incident light does not hit the retina in a bundled manner, but is fanned out. This leads to blurred vision. Astigmatism only becomes noticeable when it is more pronounced.

For example through:

• Blurred vision near and far (in contrast to short-sightedness or long-sightedness, where only one is affected)
• Headaches
• Eye pain
• Possible decrease in vision in children

Causes and treatment of astigmatism

In most cases, astigmatism is congenital. Sometimes, however, it only occurs in adulthood. This can have various causes:

• Scars or ulcers on the cornea (for example due to injuries or infections)
• Corneal cones (keratoconus): Change in the cornea that first occurs predominantly during puberty or early adulthood.
• Surgical procedures on the eye (for example, glaucoma surgery)

There are various ways to treat astigmatism:

1. Visual aids: such as spectacles with a special cylinder cut,soft and curved contact lenses (which align themselves on the curved cornea) andhard contact lenses, which bend the cornea correctly again.
2. Surgery: Surgical methods for astigmatism include laser surgery, artificial lens replacement or corneal transplantation.

Discuss with your ophthalmologist which procedure is suitable for you.

Laser surgery

It is now possible to have astigmatism removed by laser. The doctor anesthetizes the patient's eye with special eye drops so that the patient does not feel any pain during the operation.

There are various methods that an ophthalmologist can use:

• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

In photorefractive keratectomy , the laser removes the inside of the corneal surface to even out the irregularities and correct the visual defect.

• Laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK)

Laser epithelial keratomileusis is a further development of PRK. The doctor first moistens the surface of the cornea with 20 percent alcohol and then pushes it aside as an intact bandage of cells. After lasering, the surface moves back to its old position.

• Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)

In laser in situ keratomileusis, the doctor separates the upper layer of the cornea with a thin scalpel and folds it upwards. The LASIK laser then abrades the inside of the cornea to correct the visual defect. Finally, the doctors fold back the corneal flap.

After the operation , visionfluctuates for around four to six weeks. It then stabilizes. Immediately after the operation, the eye will water more. The operation itself is painless.

Refractive lens replacement

Refractive lens replacement (RLE) is suitable for very severe visual defects that cannot be treated with LASIK. RLE requires a number of preliminary examinations to determine the most suitable lens.

The cornea itself remains as it is during the operation. An ultrasound device destroys the natural lens and replaces it with an artificial one (intraocular lens). Doctors then aspirate the natural lens.

The shape of the lens is chosen so that it compensates for the curvature of the cornea. RLE is a routine and painless procedure. Subsequent corrections are easily possible. The hospital stay for the RLE lasts a maximum of one week. Shortly after the procedure, you are not allowed to do any sport and must refrain from wearing make-up.

The corneal transplant

Doctors use corneal transplantation (corneal transplantation) when visual aids orlaser surgery have been unsuccessful. In a corneal transplant, the patient receives a cornea from a donor. Experts also refer to this as keratoplasty.

In penetrating keratoplasty, doctors transplant the entire central part of the cornea @ Nastya Trel /AdobeStock

Before the patient receives the donor cornea, doctors examine it carefully for transmissible diseases.

Doctors then remove the old cornea with a cutter and sew in the new customized donor cornea with hair-thin sutures. The stitches are removed after about a year.

As long as the stitches are in the eye, the patient cannot achieve their final visual acuity. The actual result of the operation is therefore only possible after about a year.

The following complications can occur during corneal transplantation:

• The body rejects the donor cornea. The cornea becomes cloudy.
• The old disease spreads to the new cornea.

However, in most cases it is possible to perform a new corneal transplant. The operation is performed under general or local anesthesia.