Irregular corneal curvature / astigmatism
Astigmatism, a malformed curvature of the cornea, is a common eye condition where the cornea is not perfectly round but slightly distorted. This results in the incoming light not being properly distributed, leading to blurred vision at both near and far distances. Astigmatism can be congenital or acquired and can occur in combination with either nearsightedness or farsightedness. Various treatment options are available to correct astigmatism, including eyeglasses and special intraocular lenses.
Vision with astigmatism
Normal vision
Vision with astigmatism
Deformed cornea
Due to the irregularities on the cornea, an image is not projected correctly onto the retina. Light does not converge at a single point on the retina but at least two points. As a result, instead of a point, a line is visualised, causing the image to appear distorted. Affected patients perceive their environment more or less distorted and blurred.
Treatment of astigmatism
Glasses or
contact lenses
It is possible to correct astigmatism with glasses with cylindrically manufactured lenses. In addition, affected patients can wear toric contact lenses to correct the visual defect. However, glasses are perceived as very disturbing, especially during leisure time or when playing sports.
In cases of very severe astigmatism, a good result can only be achieved with the help of a refractive lens replacement.
Refractive
lens surgery
If glasses and contact lenses are perceived as disturbing or if astigmatism is severe, refractive lens surgery may be an option for affected patients. During a procedure, as in cataract surgery, the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. As a rule, these “toric” lenses are made especially for the patient according to the values that examinations have shown in order to ensure the best possible result.
Toric intraocular lenses
Toric intraocular lenses are special implants used to correct astigmatism. The lenses are designed to be asymmetrical to compensate for the uneven curvature of the cornea. The lenses allow patients with astigmatism to achieve improved visual acuity and visual quality, both at a distance and when reading texts up close. The lenses are specially manufactured and individually adjusted to ensure optimal correction of astigmatism.
These IOLs can be used independently of cataract surgery, although they are often utilised in conjunction with it. When severe astigmatism is present, toric intraocular lenses can lead to a significant improvement in quality of life over time and ensure high independence from glasses.