5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Astigmatism
Published by on November 16, 2021
As a top laser vision correction provider in Omaha, Nebraska, Kugler Vision gets a lot of questions about astigmatism. Astigmatism can be frustrating for those experiencing it. You should know you are not alone (not by a long shot!). Approximately one out of every three people in the United States experiences astigmatism, a condition caused by an irregular oval shape of the cornea that causes objects to appear stretched or distorted.
While astigmatism is extremely common, there are many things about the condition that the average person may not understand. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Today’s article covers some of the most common issues that our patients bring up with our surgeons.
1. Astigmatism Can Be Inherited.
Thanks, Mom and Dad! There is a genetic link to astigmatism development – in many cases, astigmatism is inherited. If your parents and other family members have experienced astigmatism, it is important to ensure you are keeping up with eye exams so that your eye doctor can assess if you may have astigmatism as well.
2. Yes, Astigmatism Can Affect Kids.
Unlike some other common eye conditions – like presbyopia (DLS stage 1, also referred to as “over-40” vision) – astigmatism often occurs in children. Because young kids don’t have a frame of reference of what vision should look like, they may not realize their vision is distorted. Another challenge for parents is that children may not be able to describe the eye discomfort they are experiencing.
So how do you navigate children’s visual development and monitor for astigmatism? Here’s what you can do: stay up to date on your child’s visual development with the help of their eye doctor. Stay ahead of changes in their vision by taking your children to annual eye exams. Eye exams are particularly important for kids, because their eyes are still developing and changing. Also, in the time of COVID-19, many kids have been spending more time in front of computer screens, which can exacerbate eye discomfort.
3. Eye Rubbing Can Worsen Astigmatism.
We’ve written entire blog articles on why rubbing your eyes is not a great idea, yet this issue persists. We get it – sometimes when your eyes feel tired or sore, it’s tempting to want to give them a good rub. But please, resist!
While rubbing your eyes might feel satisfying for a moment, the long-term risks just aren’t worth it. Rubbing your eyes puts pressure on the entire eyeball, especially the cornea, which risks causing damage over time. So, what should you do instead?
What to do: Instead of rubbing your eyes, reach for a soothing eyedrop to relieve dryness or irritation that you may be feeling. If you suffer from dry eye persistently, contact our team of dry eye experts to assess if you may benefit from dry eye treatment.
Another cause of wanting to rub your eyes is discomfort from contact lens use. Some people begin to experience worsening discomfort or pain from contacts, which is a symptom of contact lens intolerance, or CLI. CLI will worsen if contact lens use is continued, but can be addressed with a vision correction procedure to remove the need for contacts. If you suspect you may have CLI, consider taking our CLI self-test at the button below.
TAKE THE CLI SELF-TEST NOW
4. Yes, LASIK Can Treat Astigmatism
One of the most common myths about LASIK is that it is not an option for those with astigmatism. But that’s not true. LASIK can correct astigmatism. When LASIK technology was in its infancy more than 25 years ago, people with astigmatism were not candidates. However, we have been able to safely, accurately treat astigmatism for many years with today’s advanced technology. At Kugler Vision, Lance Kugler, MD, specializes in the treatment of astigmatism and has helped many people with astigmatism leave glasses and contacts behind.
5. However, LASIK Is Not the Only Treatment to Correct Astigmatism.
Multiple vision correction procedure solutions are available to correct astigmatism as well as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), and they can also relieve the need for reading glasses. Other advanced procedures like SMILE vision correction and the highly popular ICL procedure (also called the “permanent implantable contact lens”) are all wonderful solutions to correct distorted vision caused by astigmatism. At Kugler Vision in Omaha, Nebraska, we’re the only vision correction provider in the region to specialize in and offer all seven vision correction procedures currently available, which means it’s highly likely that you’ll qualify for a solution to help free you from glasses and contact lenses.
Get Started on a Life of Crisp, Clear Vision
Taking the next step toward a life free from the hassles of glasses and contacts is easy. Simply reach out to our team and set up your VisionTrack assessment to determine which vision correction procedure is right for your unique eyes. At Kugler Vision, customer satisfaction is our top priority, and you’ll be treated like family. We make your vision goals our goals, and we work with you to accomplish them. Simply book online via the button below or call us at 402-558-2211. We can’t wait to help you!
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
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