1. Use Corrective Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses
Your eye doctor can determine an ideal prescription strength to correct your astigmatism. You'll likely need to take an array of tests, including a slit lamp examination and a visual acuity test. Your optometrist will also play with various prescription strengths before deciding on the best fit for your needs.
Be aware that your prescription needs will likely change as you grow. While astigmatism is an inherited disorder and there's nothing you can do to prevent it, it's also not a static condition. Environmental factors can exacerbate it. In addition, if you get other eye diseases, such as cataracts, for instance, your corrective lens treatment may not be as effective.
2. Reshape the Surface of Your Eye Using LASIK Surgery
To qualify for LASIK surgery, you need to be generally healthy and free from corneal scars. Your ophthalmologist will slice into your cornea using a device known as a keratome. Then she'll employ a hot laser to reshape the cornea in accordance with a more effective shape to help your eyes focus better.
3. Try an Alternative to LASIK Surgery:Laser Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)
If you have particularly thin or delicate corneas, or if you've previously suffered an eye injury or traumatic blow to the head, LASEK surgery may make more sense. In this surgery, the doctor folds back a much thinner section of the cornea in preparation for laser reshaping.
4. Undergo Photorefractive Keratectomy (a.k.a. PRK)
In this procedure, the surgeon slices off a significant portion of the outer cornea in order to use the laser to more effectively reshape the curvature of the structure.
5. Opt for Radial Keratotomy
This technique used to be employed far more often in those battling astigmatism. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of the surgery turned out to be increased farsightedness, so surgeons the country over mostly abandoned this method. However, there may be certain unique situations in which radial keratotomy might still be the best surgical option. Discuss with your surgeon.
