This is an issue that many people face, wondering if surgery is the only option when struggling with their eye sight.
Laser eye surgery is now one the most common and safest procedures carried out and can be the best form of treatment for astigmatism.
Surgery can correct so many vision issues, improve eyesight back to almost perfect vision and save a lot of time, effort and money on other treatments and continual glasses or contact lenses.
Being able to wave goodbye to dependency on eyewear is one of the major factors for many people in choosing laser eye surgery.
While surgery is often the best remedy for a range of eye issues, there are other options that may be worth considering, rather than surgery but this will depend on how severe the error is in your eye or eyes.
Astigmatism is an irregularity in the cornea, a curvature that has affected your eyesight.
Most people have some degree of this, but it is when it becomes significant that problems occur.
If vision is becoming blurry or you are suffering from headaches or eyestrain then you may have an astigmatism that needs surgery.
As laser eye surgery is now very common, very safe and affordable, many people do go down this route, and clear up the problems once and for all.
However some people do like to consider all the options and see if any alternatives are available.
Depending upon the severity of the astigmatism and the level of eyestrain that you are experiencing there may be some alternatives.
Corrective lenses are often used for people with slight astigmatism.
Toric lenses or similar are used to assist the eyes and make vision clearer and less blurred.
The lenses give the eyes an added boost and come in varying materials and tints, as well as different prescriptions so you can be sure you are getting the right lenses for you, as individual as you are.
If you are not experiencing any eyestrain or headaches then these lenses could be a better option than laser surgery.
Speak to your doctor and find out the best form of treatment for you, and if you do opt for corrective lenses, then the prescription will come after several specific tests that will determine exactly what lens strength and shape you need.
Another alternative treatment is eye exercises, although there is debate over how effective this can be.
This treatment is based on exercising and controlling the eye muscles, using focussing techniques.
Working your eye muscles like any other muscle in your body can strengthen and improve, and this can lead to improvements in eyesight, or at the very least slow down any degeneration.
Some people swear by this treatment for many eye complaints such as eyestrain, blurred vision and lazy eye.
Others find that it does not really do much to assist any eyesight improvement.
So as with most things, it would be best to talk to your doctor and consider other alternatives if this technique does not work.
Finally, sometimes you can improve eyesight, and slow down issues occurring by increasing certain vitamins into your diet and using natural remedies such as cucumber water, agrimony leaves or marigold flowers.
Important vitamins for the eyes are vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E.
These vitamins are vital for eye health and can help to prevent certain eye diseases.
Getting more vitamins into our diet can only be a good thing.
So if you are wondering if laser eye surgery is the way forward for you, then talk to your doctor about the possible alternatives.
There is much to be said for refractive lens exchange as the best way to deal with astigmatism or cataracts and there may be some other alternatives to consider too.
Surgery is such a common treatment now in the UK and around the world, so if no other treatments work for you, or you would rather just clear it up once and for all then talk to your doctor and book in soon to see the results.
Reducing dependency on eyewear is a major plus if you do choose surgery as well as the peace of mind that your eyesight will be as good as it can be.