If you’re suffering from cataracts in Detroit, it may eventually become clear that cataract surgery is your best option. But what if you’re also suffering from astigmatism or another eye condition? Fortunately, cataract surgery often provides the opportunity to correct additional eye issues while dealing with the cataracts.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a condition in which the eye’s cornea or lens has a slightly uneven curvature. When you have astigmatism, it can often cause blurry vision and poor eyesight, but the condition can usually be treated with glasses or contact lenses. However, if you’re already planning to undergo cataract surgery, your surgeon may be able to correct your astigmatism during the procedure as well. There are several ways they might achieve this.
Toric IOL
The simplest way to correct astigmatism during cataract surgery is with a toric IOL. A toric IOL is a premium intraocular lens that functions similarly to toric contact lenses for astigmatism. When correcting your cataracts, your surgeon will already be replacing the cloudy lens of your eye with an artificial one. So, if you’re also suffering from astigmatism, they can simply opt to use a toric IOL for your replacement lens. That way, both your cataracts and astigmatism will essentially be corrected in one fell swoop. Unlike a toric contact lens, a toric IOL will be a stable and consistent solution for your astigmatism.
Limbal Relaxing Incisions
Another possible way to correct astigmatism during cataract surgery is with limbal relaxing incisions. In addition to implanting a toric IOL, your surgeon can make several tiny incisions around the outer edges of your cornea, which will essentially fix the shape of your eye to permanently correct your astigmatism. You should only opt to undergo limbal relaxing incisions when you’re under the care of a skilled, experienced surgeon like those at Vision Institute of Michigan.
Correcting Other Eye Conditions With Cataract Surgery
Thanks to advancements in lens technology, it’s quite simple to correct conditions like nearsightedness and farsightedness during cataract surgery. While a toric IOL would be the solution for astigmatism, other types of permanent clear lenses can be used to correct other vision problems. If you’re already having one or both lenses replaced to fix your cataracts, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity to improve your vision in other ways. Our doctors will gladly work with you to determine the ideal type of artificial replacement lenses to use for your procedure.
What Is the Takeaway?
If you’re undergoing cataract surgery while suffering from astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness, you should always talk to your surgeon about additional possibilities for the procedure. If you’re tired of wearing special contact lenses or glasses, you may be able to correct multiple vision problems simultaneously. Contact us at Vision Institute of Michigan today to schedule a consultation if you’re interested in cataract surgery in Detroit.