Correction
After the strength of the refractive error has been determined using special diagnostics, such as an opthalmometer (to measure the curvature of the cornea), a correction of the astigmatism can be attempted. Various treatment methods are available for this purpose. Primarily, ophthalmic lenses with a special cylinder cut are used, which are therefore also called cylindrical lenses.
In the same way, toric contact lenses can be used, which are shaped according to the individual corneal curvature. Soft contact lenses, which compensate the curvature by their shape, can be distinguished from hard contact lenses, which are usually worn overnight and have the function of forming the cornea itself. For most patients, both cylindrical lenses and contact lenses take some getting used to and can lead to headaches and eye pain in the first weeks or months.
The initial side effects of treatment are more pronounced the later the astigmatism is treated. In addition, in some cases, surgical procedures in the field of refractory surgery (called eye surgery) can correct astigmatism. Although rarely used, in extreme cases corneal transplantation is an additional treatment option if other attempts at correction do not produce the desired result.
In addition to the above mentioned treatment methods, there is also the possibility of laser correction, which is also considered a refractory surgical procedure. In recent years, this therapeutic option has indeed become one of the most popular correction methods and is performed thousands of times a year in many specialized eye centers in Germany. While various laser procedures have been developed in the meantime, LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) is currently the most popular technique.
What is remarkable about this method is that there is no significant damage to the corneal epithelium, which forms the outer and inner layer of the cornea. Instead, by vaporizing the connective tissue in between, a correction of the lens is achieved by removing irregularities, as a result of which the lens is now thinner in places than before the operation. After the operation, patients very quickly achieve sharp and pain-free vision.
Whether a laser treatment is suitable for the patient is determined individually by the treating physician using various diagnostic methods and depends above all on the degree of astigmatism. Laser correction reaches its limits at about 5 to 6 diopters in the case of astigmatism. It should also be mentioned that farsightedness cannot be treated with all common laser methods.
A combined rod long-sightedness is therefore difficult to correct by laser. In addition to the question of whether a laser treatment is beneficial, it is important to find out what the costs are for the person concerned. For each eye, these are usually between 800 and 2,500 Euros.
As a patient, it is important when looking at the costs to make sure that the price includes the costs for pre- and post-treatment, as billing is sometimes handled differently from doctor to doctor. If the costs are too high for the patient to be able to pay them in one go, some providers also offer financing over several (usually twelve) months. Laser eye centers in particular offer this service.
A (partial) assumption of costs by health insurance companies only takes place in a few exceptional cases. Like classical surgical procedures, laser treatment of astigmatism is a surgical procedure and therefore involves risks. Slight side effects of the procedure may appear in the form of dry eyes, foreign body sensation or dazzling effects at night, but usually disappear again within a few days to weeks after the procedure.
More serious complications, on the other hand, are quite rare and are about 1% depending on the source.One of these complications is keratectasia, a protrusion of the cornea, which can occur with a delay of up to ten years due to its thinning during surgery. Less than 1 in 100 patients is affected. In order to avoid such complications, it is primarily important to follow the doctor’s instructions and to make follow-up appointments.
In particular, it is important to use the prescribed eye drops regularly as instructed. This is the only way to ensure that the cornea heals properly. In order for a laser treatment to be effective and, above all, permanent, it must be ensured that the patient is no longer growing.
Otherwise, the eye, like other parts of the body, would continue to change as it grows. For this reason, laser treatments of the eye are generally only carried out after the age of 18.
