gery to manage any
ocular surface dis-
eases. This could
mean, for example,
treating severely dry
eyes before taking
measurements and
committing to astig-
matism correction
surgery.
2
Line it up
In order to surgically correct a patient's astigmatism during
cataract surgery, we need to make sure the "planets" align. By
this I mean that all 3 of a patient's key astigmatism measurements
must match for the patient to be a surgical candidate. We take meas-
urements in the office to ensure this alignment.
The eyeball is a 360-degree sphere, and we measure it in degrees.
When we take measurements of the eye, we're looking at axial length
(the front-to-back measurement of the eye) and the front of the eye
curvature. We use corneal topography and manual keratometry to
measure the eye's curvature and analyze astigmatism. A third tech-
nique, using an optical biometer, takes those same measurements, but
also measures axial length.
Because astigmatism correction is all about alignment, it's key for
the surgery to hit the eye at just the right axis. You can connect the
optical biometer to a toric alignment device in the surgical suite to
confirm the alignment of the lens during surgery. Measurements must
be similarly aligned for laser vision correction surgery, though instead
of replacing the lens, the surgeon is reshaping the cornea. We use a
8 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7
• ADD ON Treating astigmatism is a non-covered service, so facilities can charge
patients additional fees for improved vision outcomes.
Eye
Center
of
Columbus
(Ohio)
