Your Ophthalmologist Can Help You Overcome Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a vision problem that many people have, but few people get adequately corrected. At Benefield Eye Care in Gulfport, MS, we have both an ophthalmologist and an optometrist for all of your eyecare needs, including astigmatism.

What is astigmatism?

People who have astigmatism experience it as blurry vision. They may see streaks of light when they look at objects against a dark background. Their view of the world may be tilted, due to asymmetry in the surface of the cornea on the outer surface of your eye. In people who have astigmatism, the surface of the cornea is often in a “bowtie” shape, pushed outward from the center line of your vision.

Up to 95 percent of people have some degree of astigmatism, but only about 10 percent need intervention from their optometrist and ophthalmologist to have good vision. If you have had cataracts, there is a good chance you have developed astigmatism, too.

What can your optometrist and ophthalmologist do about astigmatism?

Astigmatism is often a condition diagnosed by your optometrist and corrected surgically, when necessary, by your ophthalmologist. Astigmatism is caught in routine eye exams. Your optometrist can often give you the vision correction you need with eyeglasses. Wearing glasses is inexpensive, low-maintenance, and carries no risk of infection.

Your optometrist can also prescribe contacts for correction of astigmatism and other vision issues if you have them. You may be prescribed soft contact lenses, or gas permeable rigid contact lenses, as appropriate. Most cases of astigmatism can be corrected by eyeglasses or contact lenses.

There are also surgical procedures performed by your ophthalmologist that can correct astigmatism. One of the oldest treatments for permanent correction of astigmatism is incisional management. Your ophthalmologist makes extremely small cuts in the cornea that help it return to a spherical contour.

If you have cataracts that have not yet been removed, your eye surgeon can implant lenses that compensate for astigmatism. There is also a method of applying heat to the cornea, not something you should try at home, that corrects astigmatism. Astigmatism can also be corrected with LASIK surgery.

There’s tremendous advantage in having close communication between your Doctor of Optometry and the physician who provides you with ophthalmology services in the same office. You can always receive just the right level of care with perfect communication between your eye care providers. All the information from your eye exam will be accurately communicated.

Make your appointment for your eye exam at Benefield Eye Care today

At Benefield Eye Care we are dedicated to providing knowledgeable, compassionate, and cost-effective eye care. Because we have both an ophthalmologist and an optometrist on staff, we offer the greatest range of eye care services in the region. Request an appointment online or call us at (228) 328-0972. Benefield Eye Care’s office are located at 14225 Dedeaux Road, Gulfport, MS, 39503.