Info on Macular degeneration devices

Info on Macular degeneration devices. Macular Degeneration Treatment Consists of a Variety of StrategiesAdults over the age of fifty are at greater risk for developing macular degeneration, a condition that affects the central vision of the eye. Low vision specialists can offer sound medical advice on the prevention of macular degeneration in elderly patients, as well as low vision products that can help improve one’s field of vision.What is Macular Degeneration?The inner lining of the eye is called the retina. The center of the retina is called the macula, and when this area atrophies or becomes deteriorated, macular degeneration is the result. Scarring or deterioration of the macula results in the loss of central vision, used for reading, driving, and working on computers. There are two types of age related degeneration of the macula, and they are wet and dry. The dry form is due to atrophy of the rods and cones in the retinal part of the eye. The wet form is due to blood capillaries that burst or leak below the macula, causing a loss of vision in the area.There are signs that doctors look for when diagnosing the degeneration of the macula. Yellow deposits called drusen develop in the macula, and while a person’s vision might be quite good when the drusen first develop, if the drusen grow in size and number, it can lead to age related degeneration of the macula.How is the Prevention of Macular Degeneration in Elderly Patients Accomplished?People with higher cholesterol levels are also at greater risk for developing the drusen that can lead to a degeneration of the macula. Certain cholesterol lowering medications may help to lessen the growth of drusen. What Types of Macular Degeneration Treatment Are Available?If the dry form of degeneration of the macula is present, the macular degeneration treatment can include vitamin supplements taken in high doses. Antioxidants, zeaxanthin and lutein can help slow the effects of rod and cone atrophy, and for some people it can even aid in improving central vision.Low vision specialists have seen a good new macular degeneration treatment for wet degeneration of the macula. The abnormal blood vessels growth has been lessened by the use of anti-angiogenic drugs. These are painlessly injected into the eye at a rate of once or twice a month, with good results for many patients.What Other Types of Macular Degeneration Treatment Are Available Through Macular Degeneration Devices?Low vision products are used daily to great effect in terms of macular degeneration treatment. Such macular degeneration devices can include magnifiers and telescopic glasses. While these types of products are useful for making items appear larger in the central vision range, it is important to note that your peripheral vision may be perfectly normal even though you have degeneration of the macula. So many times these devices are used in conjunction with your regular eye glass prescription to give you the best of both visual ranges.

What is Astigmatism? by Carson Danfield

Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea has an irregular shape that causes problems with vision. The cornea, the clear covering of the lens and iris, serves as a protection to the eye and helps transmit light thru the eye. The cornea is normally spherical in shape, but those with astigmatism may have their cornea more oval shaped. This oval shaping causes light to scatter instead of focusing to a single point as it passes thru the cornea and results in blurred vision.If you’ve ever looked at the images produced but those wavy mirrors at carnivals, you’ll have some idea of how astigmatism can distort your vision.Astigmatism is characterized by distortions in your field of vision, often noted as the blurring of lines. Astigmatism is also a common cause of eyestrain and headaches, especially with prolonged reading or lengthy sessions at the computer. Astigmatism causes blurring of your vision at all distances, so objects close up and even those far away will be blurred. Often present at birth, astigmatism affects many people, although not all cases are severe enough to require corrective treatment.Astigmatism is usually discovered during routine eye exams when your doctor checks your eye’s refraction and visual acuity using standard eye charts. Refraction is the ability to properly focus light rays on the retina and can be measured in a number of ways. Some doctors will ask a series of questions and conduct a visual acuity test, while others will use a keratoscope or keratometer to measure the curvature and shape of your cornea to determine your degree of astigmatism.Astigmatism can be corrected thru the use of corrective lenses, involving either glasses or contact lenses. Astigmatism can also be corrected with refractive eye surgery.Corrective Lenses for AstigmatismCorrective lenses are a conservative method of dealing with astigmatism. Glasses and contact lenses are able to counter the effects of the irregularly shaped cornea and provide vision considerable improvement. Ortho-K is an alternative method that uses special contact lenses that actually reshape the cornea. These special lenses are worn only at night and they gradually reshape the cornea by applying pressure in the right way. LASIK Surgery for AstigmatismA common misconception is that LASIK eye surgery doesn’t apply to astigmatism, but that’s false.LASIK eye surgery is by far the most commonly selected procedure for refractive eye surgery. During the LASIK procedure, a small incision creates a corneal flap and an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea. The excimer laser is different from other lasers in that it doesn’t produce heat. Once the procedure has been completed, the corneal flap is repositioned normally and the healing process begins. Most people can notice quite an improvement in vision immediately upon completion of the procedure.LASIK surgery is quick and painless, usually being performed on an out-patient basis. In most cases, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in vision and the procedure is virtually painless, taking only a few minutes to complete.

The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Be Wearing Contact Lenses Instead of Glasses

These days, contact lenses are readily available in a wide variety of types and brands. From lenses designed for people with astigmatism to colored contact lenses that enhance or change eye color, contacts fulfill so many different vision needs and requirements. Yet, even though this form of eyewear is now extremely common, many people are not aware of all of the benefits that can be gained by wearing contacts. To help you understand the many advantages of wearing this type of vision product, below are the top ten reasons why you should be wearing contact lenses instead of glasses.First of all, contact lenses provide corrected eyesight with superior peripheral vision. While eyeglasses will mostly limit your corrected field of vision to the area straight ahead of you, contact lenses will provide you with unhindered sharp vision in every direction. Secondly, people who wear contacts have less chance of damaging or losing their corrective lenses. While it’s relatively easy to misplace or accidentally scratch or break eyeglasses, contact lenses are less likely to become lost or damaged. Contact lenses are also an excellent alternative to glasses for people who don’t like the look of eyeglasses. In such cases, contact lenses can allow the wearer to feel less self-conscious and more confident. Discount contact lenses in particular can help people achieve this comfort with their appearance without causing a strain on personal expenses. Moreover, with retailers of discount contact lenses offering wide selections of different lenses, people with all types of vision correction needs can now feel more comfortable with how they look by replacing their eyeglasses with contacts.Contact lenses are also an excellent alternative to eyeglasses in various work environments. For example, contacts are much easier to wear with equipment such as safety goggles and helmets. Also, in some work environments excellent peripheral vision is absolutely necessary, while in others wearing eyeglasses just simply isn’t an option for a variety of different reasons. In such circumstances, contact lenses are an excellent solution.Another advantage of contact lenses is the fact that they are great for athletes and those who live an active lifestyle. Not only do contacts provide better vision at every angle, they can also be designed to reduce the glare of sunlight or to enhance objects such as tennis balls so that athletes can see their targets more easily. In addition, in contrast to eyeglasses, contacts won’t steam up during physical activity and will eliminate worries about eyeglasses slipping, falling off or getting broken.Contact lenses also tend to be preferable over eyeglasses for outdoor wear. While eyeglasses can become splattered or smeared by rain or snow, contacts will remain unaffected by the weather. Not only that, contacts also don’t steam up when you move from the outdoors to the indoors, providing constant and consistent clear vision.Another reason to choose contact lenses is the variety that they provide with respect to your appearance. With colored contact lenses, you can add a spark of drama and intensity to your overall appearance. By enhancing your natural eye color or even by completely changing your eye color, colored contact lenses can give you a unique and striking look. Colored contact lenses also illuminate your eyes and can provide them with greater definition.Contacts are also highly popular due to the fact that they allow people to wear non-prescription sunglasses. Whether you’re on holiday or drive frequently in bright sunlight, contact lenses allow you to see clearly without the need for prescription sunglasses. Furthermore, many wearers of contact lenses also enjoy the fact that they can wear designer sunglasses without the additional cost and hassle of having them made with prescription lenses.If you suffer from dry eyes or an eye disease such as glaucoma, you may think that contacts are not a real option for you. However, this is not the case. In fact, some contact lenses are actually designed to treat conditions such as dry eyes and glaucoma. By providing moisture or drugs to the eyes at a controlled rate, such contacts can provide very beneficial treatment while also allowing the wearer to enjoy comfortable, clear vision.Finally, one of the best reasons to choose contact lenses over eyeglasses is for convenience. Contacts are less cumbersome and less awkward than glasses and can provide you with a sense of freedom in addition to sharp vision. So if you’ve always thought that contact lenses won’t work for you, think again. Contacts may actually be your ticket to enjoying excellent vision, comfort and convenience.

What is Astigmatism? by Carson Danfield

Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea has an irregular shape that causes problems with vision. The cornea, the clear covering of the lens and iris, serves as a protection to the eye and helps transmit light thru the eye. The cornea is normally spherical in shape, but those with astigmatism may have their cornea more oval shaped. This oval shaping causes light to scatter instead of focusing to a single point as it passes thru the cornea and results in blurred vision.If you’ve ever looked at the images produced but those wavy mirrors at carnivals, you’ll have some idea of how astigmatism can distort your vision.Astigmatism is characterized by distortions in your field of vision, often noted as the blurring of lines. Astigmatism is also a common cause of eyestrain and headaches, especially with prolonged reading or lengthy sessions at the computer. Astigmatism causes blurring of your vision at all distances, so objects close up and even those far away will be blurred. Often present at birth, astigmatism affects many people, although not all cases are severe enough to require corrective treatment.Astigmatism is usually discovered during routine eye exams when your doctor checks your eye’s refraction and visual acuity using standard eye charts. Refraction is the ability to properly focus light rays on the retina and can be measured in a number of ways. Some doctors will ask a series of questions and conduct a visual acuity test, while others will use a keratoscope or keratometer to measure the curvature and shape of your cornea to determine your degree of astigmatism.Astigmatism can be corrected thru the use of corrective lenses, involving either glasses or contact lenses. Astigmatism can also be corrected with refractive eye surgery.Corrective Lenses for AstigmatismCorrective lenses are a conservative method of dealing with astigmatism. Glasses and contact lenses are able to counter the effects of the irregularly shaped cornea and provide vision considerable improvement. Ortho-K is an alternative method that uses special contact lenses that actually reshape the cornea. These special lenses are worn only at night and they gradually reshape the cornea by applying pressure in the right way. LASIK Surgery for AstigmatismA common misconception is that LASIK eye surgery doesn’t apply to astigmatism, but that’s false.LASIK eye surgery is by far the most commonly selected procedure for refractive eye surgery. During the LASIK procedure, a small incision creates a corneal flap and an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea. The excimer laser is different from other lasers in that it doesn’t produce heat. Once the procedure has been completed, the corneal flap is repositioned normally and the healing process begins. Most people can notice quite an improvement in vision immediately upon completion of the procedure.LASIK surgery is quick and painless, usually being performed on an out-patient basis. In most cases, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in vision and the procedure is virtually painless, taking only a few minutes to complete.

Buying Lenses- Discount Contact Lens Facts

Buying Contacts Online - Are there really Discount Contacts? Consider the facts.

Contact lenses, also known as contacts come in both hard and soft varieties. Contacts usually serve the same purpose as conventional eye glasses but are less cumbersome and almost invisible.

They are often composed of various types of polymers and contain some variant of silicone hydrogel. . This makes them flexible, similar to the human tissue.

Previously, hard contact lenses were made of a polymer known as PMMA, or Polymethyl methacrylate. They have since been replaced by rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Today many contact lenses are made of hydrophilic, or ‘water absorbing’ materials. This allows oxygen to reach the cornea, and make the lens more comfortable to use.

It has been estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses around the globe. About 35 million people in the United States wear contacts. The types of contact lenses people are buying vary tremendously between countries. Japan, Netherlands and Germany buy select disposable contact lenses about 80% of the time and about ninety-five percent of the time in Scandinavia.

In addition to the practicality, many people wear contacts because they think that they appear less attractive when wearing eye glasses. Contacts are easier to replace than glasses and don’t steam up. Glasses can be dangerous when used while doing vigorous activity and eye glasses don’t have the wide field of vision that contacts offer. Some physicians prefer their patients to use contacts for specific vision issue that can’t be addressed with glasses, such as keratoconus and aniseikonia. Patients with these conditions tend to have better vision when wearing contacts.

Many patients with imperfect vision begin wearing contacts when they reach puberty are about 10 years old. This is a time of life when looks is a serious concern. This is an issue for teenagers that are active in sports and programs in which they perform.

Contacts use is continued throughout a patient’s life, especially now that there are more uses for contacts that apply to both the patients’ medical and personal needs, such as color contacts and stigmatisms.

There are numerous options for purchasing contacts. Purchasing contacts online can be hassle free and less expensive than buying from a doctors’ office. The contacts are delivered to your home. It is essential that you buy from a reputable online store that will verify your prescription with your doctor. If this were not taken care of you may get the wrong prescription. They take the time to make sure you get what you need.

Shoplens is a reputable company with a large selection, including PureVision, Colored Contacts - Freshlook Colorblends, Acuvue Oasys and Softlens 66 Toric, PureVision Multi Focal, Pure Vision Toric, Acuvue 2, Acuvue Advance with Hydroclear, and numerous other hard to find and popular products.

When you online the turn around time is very fast. You can elect to pay more and get the contacts delivered sooner, but the delivery time is already great. When you compare the prices of Shoplens to 1 800 Contacts you will find that Shoplens actually passes the savings on to you.

I like the reorder program. It allows you to refill an order with the same prescription as long as it is still valid. It is worry free, when you know that most orders ship directly from the manufacturer. Who would have thought that Buy Contacts could be so easy?

why you might need bifocal reading glasses

Macular degeneration devices can provide the solution that low vision patients are looking for. They can include specialized eye glasses, computer programs and other technologies that help to maximize the existing vision of those living with macular degeneration symptoms.This degenerative visual condition usually affects the elderly, although some patients are genetically disposed to it as well. The macula, located in the central portion of the retina, is where detail vision is located. When the macula changes, resulting in bleeding, weaknesses or wasting, degeneration of the macula is the resulting medical condition. It often leaves patients with reduced central vision, and thus often means a reduction in the types of activities that rely on that type of specific detail vision, such as reading or driving. Thus, patients with this type of visual degeneration are on the lookout for macular generation devices that will improve their existing vision. Low vision can sometimes be improved by using these aids, and can sometimes make possible the activities everyone appreciates, like reading and playing cards. Bifocal reading glasses can offer an easy solution to reduced vision. Simple to use, you wear the glasses and can change your field of vision by looking through a different part of the lens. Thus, you can see items both far away and close up, and you get to choose the vision length depending on your immediate viewing needs by using bifocal reading glasses. Eye glass lenses can also be outfitted with miniature telescopes as well. Functioning a bit like the bifocal, the telescopes can be placed either on top of or behind the eye glass lens, and the patient can look through the regular lens to get the benefits of the eye glass prescription. The other choice is to look through the telescopic lens when you need ultra magnification in order to do detail type work such as reading or sewing.For those wishing to use the computer, there are special monitors which will magnify the font size, making it easier for low vision users to work on the computer. There are also software macular degeneration devices that will take sound and convert it to text, so that you can speak into the computer’s microphone and that sound will result in text on the screen. Other programs take text and turn it into braille documents, so that those with no vision can still participate in an online setting.Other macular degeneration devices that patients sometimes find effective are closed circuit televisions. You take a book, open it, and then place it under a camera, which then projects the image in a larger font and shows it on the television screen, making it bigger and thus easier to read.Whether you want to read or use the computer, there are macular degeneration devices that are suited to many specific visual tasks that you might want to explore if you have low vision.

The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Be Wearing Contact Lenses Instead of Glasses

These days, contact lenses are readily available in a wide variety of types and brands. From lenses designed for people with astigmatism to colored contact lenses that enhance or change eye color, contacts fulfill so many different vision needs and requirements. Yet, even though this form of eyewear is now extremely common, many people are not aware of all of the benefits that can be gained by wearing contacts. To help you understand the many advantages of wearing this type of vision product, below are the top ten reasons why you should be wearing contact lenses instead of glasses.First of all, contact lenses provide corrected eyesight with superior peripheral vision. While eyeglasses will mostly limit your corrected field of vision to the area straight ahead of you, contact lenses will provide you with unhindered sharp vision in every direction. Secondly, people who wear contacts have less chance of damaging or losing their corrective lenses. While it’s relatively easy to misplace or accidentally scratch or break eyeglasses, contact lenses are less likely to become lost or damaged. Contact lenses are also an excellent alternative to glasses for people who don’t like the look of eyeglasses. In such cases, contact lenses can allow the wearer to feel less self-conscious and more confident. Discount contact lenses in particular can help people achieve this comfort with their appearance without causing a strain on personal expenses. Moreover, with retailers of discount contact lenses offering wide selections of different lenses, people with all types of vision correction needs can now feel more comfortable with how they look by replacing their eyeglasses with contacts.Contact lenses are also an excellent alternative to eyeglasses in various work environments. For example, contacts are much easier to wear with equipment such as safety goggles and helmets. Also, in some work environments excellent peripheral vision is absolutely necessary, while in others wearing eyeglasses just simply isn’t an option for a variety of different reasons. In such circumstances, contact lenses are an excellent solution.Another advantage of contact lenses is the fact that they are great for athletes and those who live an active lifestyle. Not only do contacts provide better vision at every angle, they can also be designed to reduce the glare of sunlight or to enhance objects such as tennis balls so that athletes can see their targets more easily. In addition, in contrast to eyeglasses, contacts won’t steam up during physical activity and will eliminate worries about eyeglasses slipping, falling off or getting broken.Contact lenses also tend to be preferable over eyeglasses for outdoor wear. While eyeglasses can become splattered or smeared by rain or snow, contacts will remain unaffected by the weather. Not only that, contacts also don’t steam up when you move from the outdoors to the indoors, providing constant and consistent clear vision.Another reason to choose contact lenses is the variety that they provide with respect to your appearance. With colored contact lenses, you can add a spark of drama and intensity to your overall appearance. By enhancing your natural eye color or even by completely changing your eye color, colored contact lenses can give you a unique and striking look. Colored contact lenses also illuminate your eyes and can provide them with greater definition.Contacts are also highly popular due to the fact that they allow people to wear non-prescription sunglasses. Whether you’re on holiday or drive frequently in bright sunlight, contact lenses allow you to see clearly without the need for prescription sunglasses. Furthermore, many wearers of contact lenses also enjoy the fact that they can wear designer sunglasses without the additional cost and hassle of having them made with prescription lenses.If you suffer from dry eyes or an eye disease such as glaucoma, you may think that contacts are not a real option for you. However, this is not the case. In fact, some contact lenses are actually designed to treat conditions such as dry eyes and glaucoma. By providing moisture or drugs to the eyes at a controlled rate, such contacts can provide very beneficial treatment while also allowing the wearer to enjoy comfortable, clear vision.Finally, one of the best reasons to choose contact lenses over eyeglasses is for convenience. Contacts are less cumbersome and less awkward than glasses and can provide you with a sense of freedom in addition to sharp vision. So if you’ve always thought that contact lenses won’t work for you, think again. Contacts may actually be your ticket to enjoying excellent vision, comfort and convenience.

Learn more about Magnifiers

Macular degeneration devices are by no means a cure for this condition (which is usually age-related and irreverisble). However, these types of low vision aids can help those with such vision problems by enabling them to optimize what eyesight remains. These low vision products and macular degeneration devices include magnifiers and bifocal and telescopic lenses.Low vision specialists tell us that macular degeneration usually affects the elderly; however, there are people who have a genetic predisposition to this condition and may suffer from it at an earlier age. Located in the central portion of the retina, the macula can deteriorate %26ndash; shrivel, develop holes or bleed %26ndash; over time. The major vision problems that occur as a result is reduced ability to see close-up details. Detecting early macular degeneration is important in determining what low vision products are best for a particular patient. Low vision specialists may reccommend telescopic lenses, which are actually miniature telescopes that are attached to a pair of spectacles. These are only one of the several types of magnifiers available. Other low vision aids are bifocals, which allow the patient to change his/her field of vision by focusing through a different part of the lens. These are but two of the many macular degeneration devices available on the market today.Other low vision aids include special magnifiers that can be placed in front of computer screens for those who spend any amount of time online or working behind a computer. Depending on the stage or severity of the condition, low vision specialists may also reccomend macular degeneration devices that consist of %26ldquo;text-to-speech%26rdquo; software; what was science fiction forty years ago is now reality, as those suffering from vision problems can actually speak to their computers and have those words turned into readable text.Among the more useful macular degeneration devices on the market is one that takes old technology and uses it in new ways. Television was actually invented during the 1920s and has been commonly available since the late 1940s; using closed circuit TV cameras to focus on printed text and project a large image up on a television screen as enabled those suffering from macular degeneration to enjoy the printed word once again.For such macular degeneration devices to have the greatest level of effectiveness however, detecting early macular degeneration is vital. The condition cannot be cured nor reversed; however, progression of the disease can be slowed considerably if caught in time %26ndash; and macular degeneration devices can optimize the patient%26rsquo;s remaining vision, allowing him/her to continue enjoying the same everyday activities as before.

Glaucoma Detailed Information

Glaucoma is not one disorder but a range of conditions in which the pressure inside the eye becomes too high. Glaucoma leads to blindness by damaging the optic nerve. The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. It connects the retina to the brain. (See diagram below.) The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy optic nerve is necessary for good vision. Worldwide, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. It is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Over 300,000 Australians have glaucoma. While it is more common as people age, it can occur at any age. As our population becomes older, the proportion of glaucoma patients is increasing. People at risk should get eye exams at least every two years. They include people over age 60, especially Mexican Americans and People with a family history of glaucoma There are many types of glaucoma. The most common is chronic glaucoma in which the aqueous fluid can get to the drainage channels (open angle) but they slowly become blocked over many years. The eye pressure rises very slowly and there is no pain to show there is a problem, but the field of vision gradually becomes impaired. Acute glaucoma is much less common in western countries. This happens when there is a sudden and more complete blockage to the flow of aqueous fluid to the eye. This is because a narrow “angle” closes to prevent fluid ever getting to the drainage channels. This can be quite painful and will cause permanent damage to your sight if not treated promptly. Secondary and developmental glaucoma are two other main types of glaucoma. When a rise in eye pressure is caused by another eye condition this is called secondary glaucoma. There is also a rare but potentially serious condition in babies called developmental or congenital glaucoma which is caused by malformation in the eye. Congenital glaucoma is very rare for children to be born with glaucoma but it is a recognised condition. There is a tendency for this to run in families, although it may occur in children with no family history of glaucoma at all. Early treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. Treatments usually include prescription eyedrops and/or surgery. Eyedrops are the most common form of treatment and must be used regularly. In some cases pills are prescribed. The drops can be varied to best suit the patient and the type of glaucoma. Laser (laser trabeculoplasty) is performed when eye drops do not stop deterioration in the field of vision.In many cases eye drops will need to be continued after laser. Laser does not require a hospital stay. Surgery (trabeculectomy)is performed usually after eye drops and laser have failed to control the eye pressure. A new channel for the fluid to leave the eye is created. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors like dorzolamide (Trusopt), brinzolamide (Azopt), acetazolamide (Diamox) lower secretion of aqueous humor by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase in the ciliary body. Physostigmine is also used to treat glaucoma and delayed gastric emptying.

What is Astigmatism?
by Carson Danfield

Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea has an irregular shape that causes problems with vision. The cornea, the clear covering of the lens and iris, serves as a protection to the eye and helps transmit light thru the eye. The cornea is normally spherical in shape, but those with astigmatism may have their cornea more oval shaped. This oval shaping causes light to scatter instead of focusing to a single point as it passes thru the cornea and results in blurred vision.

If you’ve ever looked at the images produced but those wavy mirrors at carnivals, you’ll have some idea of how astigmatism can distort your vision.

Astigmatism is characterized by distortions in your field of vision, often noted as the blurring of lines. Astigmatism is also a common cause of eyestrain and headaches, especially with prolonged reading or lengthy sessions at the computer. Astigmatism causes blurring of your vision at all distances, so objects close up and even those far away will be blurred. Often present at birth, astigmatism affects many people, although not all cases are severe enough to require corrective treatment.

Astigmatism is usually discovered during routine eye exams when your doctor checks your eye’s refraction and visual acuity using standard eye charts. Refraction is the ability to properly focus light rays on the retina and can be measured in a number of ways. Some doctors will ask a series of questions and conduct a visual acuity test, while others will use a keratoscope or keratometer to measure the curvature and shape of your cornea to determine your degree of astigmatism.

Astigmatism can be corrected thru the use of corrective lenses, involving either glasses or contact lenses. Astigmatism can also be corrected with refractive eye surgery.

Corrective Lenses for Astigmatism

Corrective lenses are a conservative method of dealing with astigmatism. Glasses and contact lenses are able to counter the effects of the irregularly shaped cornea and provide vision considerable improvement.

Ortho-K is an alternative method that uses special contact lenses that actually reshape the cornea. These special lenses are worn only at night and they gradually reshape the cornea by applying pressure in the right way.

LASIK Surgery for Astigmatism

A common misconception is that LASIK eye surgery doesn’t apply to astigmatism, but that’s false.

LASIK eye surgery is by far the most commonly selected procedure for refractive eye surgery. During the LASIK procedure, a small incision creates a corneal flap and an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea. The excimer laser is different from other lasers in that it doesn’t produce heat. Once the procedure has been completed, the corneal flap is repositioned normally and the healing process begins. Most people can notice quite an improvement in vision immediately upon completion of the procedure.

LASIK surgery is quick and painless, usually being performed on an out-patient basis. In most cases, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in vision and the procedure is virtually painless, taking only a few minutes to complete.