Astigmatism is a problem in the cornea’s curvature which prevents clear focus on near and far objects. This is due to the cornea because, instead of being round, it flattens at the poles and show up different radius of curvature in each of the main points. As a result, when the light focuses on the retina, distorted images are obtained.
Causes
The underlying cause may be hereditary, although in some cases it may occur after a cornea transplant or cataract surgery.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of astigmatism is the perception of distorted images. However, it may often cause headaches or eye discomfort. Besides, depending on age, the amount and type of astigmatism, the symptoms may be different, and even null
Types
There are different kinds of astigmatism:
• Simple Astigmatism: it appears only at one point.
• Compound Astigmatism: besides affecting a central point, it is associated to nearsightedness or farsightedness (myopia o hyperopia)
• Mixed Astigmatism: it’s when a point is focused in front of the retina (myopia) and another behind the retina (hyperopia).
The professional specialized in refractive surgery is Dr. Roberto Zaldivar
iLASIK ™
IntraLase™ in Refractive Surgery
The Intralase™ is the most advanced laser technology in the world for refractive surgery.
Refractive Surgery
Correction of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
From the first quartz crystals until the use of contact lenses, science has been constantly evolving in order to achieve precise and definitive solutions to severe problems caused by refractive defects such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism .
More than 250,000 people worldwide improved their vision thanks to refractive laser surgery, a procedure that has reached highest levels of precision and safety.
The technological revolution in this field corresponds to the incorporation of lasers of the latest generation and the measurement and treatment of optical aberration added to the refractive error.
For all this, we say that the laser refractive surgery has become the choice of thousands of people worldwide.
INTRALASE™
Innovative technology, precision and safety.
The Zaldivar Institute uses advanced laser technology, called Femtosecond Laser.
This technology has not only beneficiated refractive Surgery, but also corneal grafts and corneal surgery, especially intra corneal rings placement for patients with keratoconus.
Up to now, the refractive surgeons’ procedure most utilized to treat defects, such as low and moderate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, has been the LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) that combines the use of microkeratome for the corneal cut and the EXCIMER LASER for the desired correction.
With INTRALASE ™ the cell tissue is cut in an optical form, by the emission of thousands of pulses of the new FEMTOSECOND LASER. This technology replaces the microkeratome.
Another advantage of using Femtosecond , is the brevity of the surgical time since this system allows doing the procedure in a single step (One-Step LASIK) thus giving the patient a more comfortable experience by shortening the time spent in the operating room.
This procedure has been named iLASIK ™, it’s done under topical anesthesia, (only drops), and the patient goes home right after the operation. This surgical technique is applied to cases of low and moderate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
The possibility of a better vision
LASIK guided by wavefront (personalized).
This technique allows high quality and very precise surgical corrections , in corneas with optical aberrations added to common refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism).
Our Institute has the technology to correct such aberrations with ZYOPTIX combined with the use of INTRALASE ™
This integral system provides the possibility of personalizing the treatment, being based on the individual study of optical aberrations of each patient.
Eye Tracker: greater security.
As an additional element of safety, the laser has a guide system called EYETRACKER. This technology allows monitoring the slightest ,horizontal and rotational, eye movement at real speed .It is a system similar to those used by fighter planes with an overall accuracy in focusing and monitoring of the target.
Other surgical alternatives.
Today with ILasik ™ the majority of single or combined refraction defects have solution. However, there are cases of night myopia, important optical aberrations, extreme myopia or hyperopia, or corneal problems that need to be resolved with other procedures.
The extreme refraction defects have got benefit with the use of refractive implants, alone or combined with the iLasik™.This procedure, called BIOPTICS, was developed by Dr. Roberto Zaldívar in 1996 and today is referred as iBIOPTICS.
A brief mention deserves the use of the system INTRALASE™ in the corneal surgeries destined to lamellar and endothelial corneal grafts and for the placement of intra corneal rings (ICR) for patients with keratoconus, alone or combined with the laser for CROSSLINKING.
What do I do to be operated?
Preliminary examination.
It is indispensable to have a thorough eye exam in order to determine if the person is eligible for the laser surgery.
Information.
In consultation with the doctor, the patient is given all the necessary information and a detailed description of the defect and surgical alternatives. Informed, and without any doubt about its ocular reality, the person has more confidence to make a decision regarding the surgery.
Measurements and visual tests.
Pre-surgical examinations are very important, and are associated with eye examination that the specialist makes in his/her office.
The procedure and the preliminaries.
Those who wear soft or disposable contact lenses should suspend their use for seven days prior to surgery.
If the person wears hard or flexible contact lenses, should stop using those 15 days before surgery.
As for nutrition, beverages or consumption of medicines, there is no restriction of any kind prior to the operation.
