What is Astigmatic Keratotomy (“AK”)?
Astigmatism is a “warpage” or irregular shape to the cornea, which causes light that enters your eye to not come to a clear focus onto the retina as it should. Astigmatic keratotomy (AK) is a procedure that uses a precision diamond instrument to create “relaxing incisions” on the cornea, which allows it to become more spherical in shape. It can be used in patients with pure astigmatism as a refractive procedure, and can also be combined with cataract surgery in patients that have both cataracts and corneal astigmatism, to allow a better or clearer result.
