"astigmatism, cyl. and axis " Posted by Lynne - Birmingham, AL on 13:51:09 1/14/2000
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I understand myopia and hyperopia, but I do not understand how astigmatisms affect it. For example, my right eye is - 1.75 sph. with +.50 cyl. and 125 axis. Please explain what the cyl. and axis mean. It seems that astigmatisms often result from laser surgery - are they intentional? for ex. to create a multi-focal cornea?
1. "astigmatism" Posted by Debra Tennen, MD on 18:00:33 1/17/2000
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astigmatism comes from greek- a meaning not and stigma meaning spot. the light doesn't come into focus into one spot, but instead makes a blurry smudge. this is because the eye is shaped like an egg as opposed to a perfectly round machine made marble. everyone has some degree of astigmatism, and 0.50 cylinder is very mild. the axis refers to the direction which has the greater curvature- the short direction of the egg shape.
some astigmatism can be induced by the creation of the flap, but often is not of an amount to be significant.
debra tennen, md
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