"Astigmatism is a common condition that causes blurry vision. It oftentimes comes together with other vision problems, such as farsightedness or nearsightedness. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Laser eye surgery can be another option to provide a correction to astigmatism in addition to glasses or contact lenses."
Facts and figures on astigmatism
8,000,000
Over 8 million eyes have been successfully treated with ZEISS SMILE worldwide.
175 years
Carl Zeiss has over 175 years of leadership innovation and is a pioneer in high-precision optics. Today, ZEISS produces award-winning medical technologies, laser systems, precision lenses, eyeglasses and scientific optical systems.
40%
If you are already wearing glasses or contacts, you have a 40% chance to also have astigmatism too. Astigmatism increases as you age. While only 14.3% are affected at age 15 and lower, chances increase to 67.2% at age 65 and higher.
How does astigmatism affect vision?
Spotting the signs of astigmatism
Astigmatism causes refractive errors as either the cornea is oval rather than round, or the lens has mismatched curves. As a result, light is focused on more than one place in your eye, causing blurred vision.
If you have astigmatism, you have probably found yourself squinting to try to see distant objects, read menu or use your smartphone. What’s more, you may experience headaches or eye strain when concentrating for longer periods, such as when driving or working with computer screens.
Astigmatism can also affect depth perception, making it difficult to judge how far objects are. And you may also see halos or glares when looking at lights, particularly at night. This could make driving in the dark problematic, especially when trying to deal with the glare from oncoming headlights.
If you are experiencing any of these situations, you should discuss this with your doctor during your eye exam.
Astigmatism and ZEISS laser eye surgery
Laser eye surgery can be used to safely and effectively correct astigmatism. During ZEISS SMILE, a thin layer of the cornea is removed through a tiny 4mm opening. This reshapes the cornea, thereby correcting the astigmatism and the refractive error.
Astigmatism with myopia, hyperopia, or presbyopia
What are my choices?
If you have an astigmatism with additional myopia, hyperopia, or presbyopia, you may be wondering what options there are to improve your sight. With over 8 million eyes successfully treated across the globe, ZEISS SMILE can also correct certain amounts of nearsightedness (myopia) at the same time as treating your astigmatism. Glasses and contact lenses which correct astigmatism are costly, over time ZEISS SMILE may actually save you money, while at the same time reducing or eliminating your dependency on corrective eyewear.
By correcting multiple vision issues in a single procedure, ZEISS SMILE may be an affordable solution.
If you have hyperopia or presbyopia, talk to your doctor about which ZEISS treatments are best for you.
What if ZEISS SMILE is not an option for me?
ZEISS SMILE Alternatives
If ZEISS SMILE is not an option for you, you may still be able to benefit from laser eye surgery. There are two other treatments, PRK and LASIK, which your doctor may consider. Both procedures have a proven track record of treating astigmatism with myopia or hyperopia.
My brother’s friend got this procedure done and that is how I came to know about it. I then started doing my research and I realized that the surgery time was very less. So, I decided to get ZEISS SMILE done for myself.”
“My procedure was 3-4 mins, and by the next day itself I could see clearly. This has been a great experience. I play cricket as well; I am a bowler and my glasses used to fall off… this is a big change ”
Varun
28 Yrs., Software Engineer & Cricket Enthusiast
“I have always had issues with using lenses and specs, as they don’t make me feel comfortable. So, I started exploring laser treatments, the counselor explained all the different surgeries and I felt that ZEISS SMILE is a better option for me as I am moving abroad very soon.”
“It's been one of my best decisions till date. I am very happy and I am asking my wife to also get the procedure done. The procedure was very quick. My vision is bright and clear now. ”
Gautam Nanjapa
32 Yrs., Banker
"I am a dancer and spectacles were an inconvenience. Along with my costume and makeup it didn’t look good. That was the main reason for me to opt for a ZEISS SMILE procedure. I got to know about it from my friend who had undergone the same procedure and was very happy with it."
“At first, I was anxious, but the doctors are very competent and friendly, and I was given end to end guidance. I could see the change from the next day of the procedure. I had been wearing the spectacles from the last 5 years, it would fog up when I wore a mask or helmet to drive. Now I am not worried about any of this.”
Keerthi Lakshmi,
23 Yrs., IT Professional & Dancer
"I have been wearing glasses from 12th standard due to various reasons. I had never decided, but I wanted to get rid of the glasses before I turned 40 and be free. I did some research online and talked to people who had got the procedure done. This gave me a lot of confidence to get the ZEISS SMILE procedure done, and I decided that this is the best process for me as it is minimally invasive."
Now, when I look at a clock and see the time clearly, I know the difference! I feel relaxed as I no longer carry lenses, solutions, or spare glasses. Now, I do all the underwater activities I have always wanted to try!
