Can children with astigmatism undergo laser surgery?

Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Firstly, laser surgery is generally performed after the age of 18, as people's eyes continue to grow. This means that just like when a person stops growing taller, the eyes also stop growing at a certain age. If laser surgery is performed too early, while the eyes are still growing, the results may regress over time.

Therefore, astigmatism in children should only be addressed after they reach adulthood, usually after the age of 18, but we generally recommend waiting until after the age of 21. Additionally, if the progression of the eye prescription is less than 50 to 100 degrees per year, the surgery outcomes are more likely to be stable. Generally, laser surgery is primarily used for myopia, which pertains to issues with seeing distant scenes, whereas astigmatism, which generally affects horizontal vision, is usually not corrected through laser surgery.

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Do you need to wear glasses long-term if you have more than 200 degrees of astigmatism?

Patients with astigmatism of more than 200 degrees generally need to wear glasses long-term. Astigmatism of over 200 degrees is considered moderate and can significantly affect vision. If glasses are not worn to correct this, the patient's unaided vision is usually poor, causing blurriness and inconvenience in work and daily life. Additionally, prolonged unclear vision can easily lead to eye strain, and may even cause symptoms such as eye soreness, dizziness, and headaches. Astigmatism can be diagnosed through an optometric examination, which will determine the specific degree of astigmatism and its axis. Glasses can then be prescribed to correct it. If the patient is an adult who does not wish to wear glasses, laser surgery or the implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens can also be considered as treatment options.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Crystalline astigmatism is caused by what?

Lenticular astigmatism is a common eye disease, usually caused by the early formation of cataracts, where the lens becomes unevenly opaque. This leads to inconsistent refractive power in different directions, causing astigmatism. Patients can visit the ophthalmology department of a hospital for an optometry examination and a slit lamp microscope examination to confirm whether the astigmatism is due to the lens. For lenticular astigmatism, if the cataract has little impact on vision, it can initially be corrected by wearing glasses to improve vision. If the cataract has already significantly affected vision, cataract surgery can be performed to correct and treat it. After the surgery, the lenticular astigmatism will naturally disappear, and the patient’s vision will be improved.

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Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
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Astigmatism in children is caused by what?

The majority of astigmatism in children is caused by congenital factors, that is, genetic factors. If one or both parents of the child have astigmatism, the probability of the child having astigmatism is higher than that of other children. There are also a few cases where a child's astigmatism is caused by acquired factors, such as surgery, trauma, or illness, all of which may cause changes in the curvature of the cornea and lens. Additionally, a lack of outdoor activities and poor eye habits might also promote the development of astigmatism. It is recommended that once a child is diagnosed with astigmatism, they should go to a reputable hospital for examination and then get appropriate treatment to improve the condition, otherwise, it could impact their vision.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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Can astigmatism wear orthokeratology lenses?

Astigmatism below 300 degrees generally can be corrected with orthokeratology (OK) lenses. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error where the eye has different refractive powers in different meridians, causing parallel light rays passing through the eye's refractive system to refract improperly and form two focal lines instead of a single focal point on the retina, resulting in a blurred image. Astigmatism can be categorized into regular astigmatism and irregular astigmatism. Regular astigmatism can be corrected using cylindrical lenses or glasses, while irregular astigmatism may require correction with corneal contact lenses, OK lenses, or surgical correction. Common symptoms of astigmatism include blurred vision, reduced visual acuity, and easy eye fatigue, and sometimes may also present with symptoms such as head tilting and headaches. Therefore, it is advisable to seek consultation in the ophthalmology refractive department if astigmatism symptoms appear.

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How to relieve headaches caused by astigmatism in the eyes?

Eyestrain and headache can be understood in two senses: First, if one experiences astigmatism when viewing objects, accompanied by headaches and eye pain, it is possible that glaucoma is present. This condition is also associated with increased eye pressure and swelling pain in the eyes. If this is the case, treatment to lower eye pressure and treat glaucoma is necessary. The second meaning involves astigmatism identified through an eye examination, indicating a refractive error. If the astigmatism correction in the glasses worn is not suitable, prolonged viewing can lead to visual fatigue, eye pain, and accompanying headaches. In this case, a detailed eye examination followed by wearing appropriate glasses is needed to alleviate the symptoms.