Can astigmatism be corrected?
Astigmatism is a condition in which the cornea is more curved in one direction than the other direction. An analogy used is that the cornea is shaped like a football instead of a basketball. Astigmatism affects vision at all distances and is not corrected with traditional cataract surgery. Fortunately we now have 2 different methods to correct astigmatism. One method is making an incision on the cornea, called a limbal relaxing incision, which has the effect of making the cornea more round. A newer technique is the insertion of a toric intraocular lens, which corrects the astigmatism. Dr. Sanders performs both these procedures and will discuss which is best for you at your consultation.
