Astigmatism correction surgery, commonly referred to as Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK), is a refractive surgical procedure that is used to correct astigmatism, and is one of the surgeries performed at the Lombardi Eye Clinic, headed by Dr. Massimo Lombardi. Dr. Lombardi has gained international recognition for the development of specialized keratoconus treatments.
The cornea of people who have astigmatism is shaped like a football. Astigmatism correction surgery corrects astigmatism by making one or two incisions at the steepest part of the cornea. These incisions cause the cornea to relax and take a more and better rounded shape. It is often used in combination with other vision correction surgeries.
The ideal refractive surgical procedure is simple to perform, inexpensive, and applicable to a wide range of ametropias. Astigmatism correction surgery (AK) fits these criteria in many ways. It can be useful for numerous refractive problems, including congenital astigmatism, astigmatism with a cataract, post-traumatic astigmatism, and astigmatism after corneal transplantation. Even with excimer laser vision correction (eg, photorefractive keratoplasty [PRK], LASIK), AK can be a useful tool for many eyes.
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Read more about astigmatism correction surgery and other techniques for correction of visual defects: