Table of contents:
- How to treat cylindrical eyes?
- 1. Glasses and contact lenses
- 2. Refractive surgery
- Therapy to prevent cylindrical eyes from worsening
Not only nearsightedness or farsightedness, the eye can also experience blurred vision due to cylindrical eyes or astigmatism. Not everyone realizes that his eyes have cylinders. People with cylindrical eyes have less than perfect curved eyes and this is generally a congenital condition. Even so, several ways to treat cylindrical eyes can be done so that vision returns to optimal.
How to treat cylindrical eyes?
Cylindrical eye is a condition when the shape of the cornea or lens of the eye does not have complete curvature. Causes of cylinder eyes can be related to genetic factors, heredity, or the effects of certain eye diseases.
As described by Harvard Medical School, the cornea and lens of the eye normally have a perfectly round shape. This condition allows all light to be captured and refracted properly by the eye.
However, the cornea in a cylindrical eye is oval in shape so that the eye cannot completely focus all light on the retina. As a result, the vision of certain objects both at close and long distances becomes blurred.
Well, the condition of this cylinder eye, of course, can still be improved. Basically, there are 3 ways to treat cylindrical eyes, namely by using glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery.
1. Glasses and contact lenses
The first way to treat cylindrical eyes that is most commonly used is to use corrective lenses, aka cylindrical glasses or contact lenses.
Special contact lenses for cylindrical eyes, are called toric. With this lens, light can be deflected correctly toward the eye. The worse off your cylinder, the better it is to wear contact lenses made of a stiffer material.
Even so, contact lenses and cylindrical glasses will not heal your cylindrical eyes like normal eyes. Glasses and lenses only help improve vision when you use them.
This means, if you do not use it, you may still experience vision problems. The size of your cylinder is unlikely to decrease by wearing glasses continuously.
2. Refractive surgery
Reducing eye cylinders is not enough just by wearing glasses or contact lenses. The most effective way to treat cylindrical eyes is refractive surgery. However, this method is more common in people with cylinder eyes with severe conditions.
Refractive surgery for cylindrical eyes uses a laser to correct the cornea to make it more rounded and flat. This method can reduce the cylinder in the eye permanently.
Some refractive surgery methods that are commonly used as a way to treat atstigmatism are:
- Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK)
- Laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK)
In some procedures, the surgeon may also be able to attach a type of implanted lens toric to correct cylindrical eye disorders.
To find out which refractive surgery procedure is most suitable for your eye condition, discuss it directly with your ophthalmologist.
In very mild cases of cylindrical eyes usually do not require any therapy. The cylindrical eye symptoms that you experience are not annoying enough and the eye can usually adjust without having to work too hard.
Therapy to prevent cylindrical eyes from worsening
Cylindrical eyes can only be permanently cured through surgery. If you have mild astigmatism and don't want surgery, you need to keep it from getting worse.
Eye stress, which is characterized by eye strain, is one of the conditions that can worsen astigmatism that you are experiencing. Things that make you tense and tired include:
- Using a computer, TV, or screen gadget for a long time
- Read in poor lighting
- Not drinking enough water, a body that is less hydrated will reduce eye hydration as well
- The eyes are not getting enough nutrition
Some of the following therapies can help prevent your cylinder eyes from getting worse, namely:
- Rest your eyes by doing tired eye exercises, especially when you're working staring at the screen.
- Don't forget to blink. Blinking does not reduce stress on the eyes, but it can be one way to prevent dry eyes so that they do not aggravate cylindrical eyes.
- Ensure adequate lighting. Poor lighting makes the eyes work harder and makes it difficult to focus. Use bright LED lights during activities.
Cylindrical eyes are not a dangerous eye refractive disorder and can still be overcome through the use of visual aids or surgery.
However, cylindrical eyes can be difficult to detect, especially if they are experienced by children. Therefore, make sure you do regular complete eye examinations so that they can be treated early to avoid further damage.
