Astigmatism explained
Everything you need to know about astigmatism
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error, often found in conjunction with long-sightedness (hyperopia) or short-sightedness (myopia).
Astigmatism usually arises from an uneven curvature of the front surface of the eye known as the cornea. This causes light entering through this surface to be refracted and bent so that it falls on two slightly different points on the retina at the back of the eye. This results in blurry or distorted vision. Patients with uncorrected astigmatism may also experience:
- an increase in glare, perceiving lights as “smeared out” in a starburst pattern
- ghosting, which is the sensation of seeing a faint double image of the one object
- headaches, typically around the brow area after prolonged near work such as reading or computer use
We assess the degree and form of astigmatism at your initial clinic assessment. We do this using a number of instruments including a corneal topographer (we use a Pentacam which is the gold standard instrument for astigmatism measurements). The Pentacam has software which can detect the nature of your astigmatism and assess if corneal refractive surgery is an option for you.
If you’ve avoided pursuing surgical options to reduce your dependency on glasses and contact lenses simply because you’ve been told you have astigmatism, LASIK surgery for astigmatism may be the answer.
For patients who are unsuitable for the LASIK procedure for any reason, there are additional options for surgical correction of astigmatism, including SMILE® surgery and intraocular contact lens procedures.
What our patients say...
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How did you feel after SMILE laser eye surgery in Melbourne?
Who can laser eye surgery help?
If you see yourself in how we describe our ideal patients below, we can certainly help you enhance your every waking moment with amazing natural vision
Ready to start your new journey today?
Improve your vision of life in just three simple steps:
Ready to start your new journey today?
Improve your vision of life in just three simple steps:
GET YOUR CONSULTATION
Before any procedure, we’ll ascertain if you’re the right fit for this revolutionary treatment at our cutting-edge eye clinic near Melbourne CBD.
Links to authoritative resources on LASIK
Follow the links below for more information on LASIK
About Eye Laser Specialists
Our eye doctors bring a combined 40 years of eye surgery experience to Armadale
Dr Anton van Heerden, MBCHB; FRANZCO
Ophthalmologist & Laser Eye Surgeon
Dr Van Heerden is renowned both domestically and internationally for providing the highest standards of vision correction surgery. While his skills and experience are second to none, it is his fun, caring and down to earth nature that truly set’s him apart from the rest. You can sit back and enjoy the journey knowing every detail has been carefully considered.
Dr Anton Auret Van Heerden AHPRA Registration No MED0001218295, type: Specialist
Dr Edward Roufail, PhD, FRANZCO
Ophthalmologist & Laser Eye Surgeon
As an experienced eye surgeon, Dr Edward Roufail has expertise in performing corneal refractive procedures, including SMILE, LASIK, PRK and Presbyond. He’s passionate about improving his patients’ eyesight through laser vision correction. Edward has performed thousands of cataract, retinal and macular surgeries and routinely, performs over 500 intraocular surgeries a year, including MFIOL and ICL. He is passionate about using the latest technology to deliver the best outcomes for patients.
Dr Edward Roufail AHPRA Registration No MED0001139276, type: Specialist
Dr Benjamin Au
Cataract and Refractive Surgeon
Dr Benjamin Au is a registered ophthalmologist in Australia and Singapore specialising in Complex Cataracts and Refractive Surgery. Dr Au’s Singapore training in myopia and finesse in dealing with difficult cataract surgeries, combined with his passion for delivering predictable and outstanding visual outcomes, motivated him to refractive surgery. Ben aims to deliver the best professional and honest care paired with his personable and affable personality.
Ben is excited to be able to offer PRESBYOND surgery, a means to rid the need for reading glasses without compromises (loss of contrast, glares and haloes) available only through the Zeiss refractive laser system.
Dr Benjamin Wai Yin Au AHPRA Registration No MED0002321588, type: Specialist
