People with astigmatism see ghost images or double images without their glasses on. In this condition, the cornea is not spherical, but is shaped more like a football or teaspoon. Light entering the eye is distorted by this lack of sphericity, causing blurry images and ghost images. Astigmatism is often combined with myopia or hyperopia.

The VISX Star excimer laser received FDA approval for the treatment of up to -4.00 diopters of myopic astigmatism in early 1997. This will expand our ability to treat almost any combination of myopia with astigmatism. See similar questions...