Prices for treatments in our London clinic start from £4,400 for both eyes.
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Telephone Consultation
We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
Prices for treatments in our London clinic start from £4,400 for both eyes.
Book Your FREE
Telephone Consultation
We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
Prices for treatments in our London clinic start from £4,400 for both eyes.
Book Your FREE
Telephone Consultation
We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
Astigmatism is a common refractive error that can make vision look blurred or distorted at every distance, near and far. It usually happens when the cornea, the eye’s clear front window, curves more steeply in one direction than the other, though the eye’s natural lens can also contribute.
Instead of focusing at a single clear point on the retina, light focuses at multiple points. Astigmatism often occurs alongside short-sightedness or long-sightedness, and it can usually be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.
About four in ten adults have at least a small degree of astigmatism. [1] Roughly one in four has 1.00 dioptre or more, which is more likely to produce noticeable blur without correction. [2]
✓Astigmatism is a common refractive error that can cause blurred or distorted vision
✓About four in ten adults have at least a small degree of astigmatism
✓It often occurs alongside short-sightedness or long-sightedness
✓Laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism in many suitable patients
✓Glasses and toric (astigmatism) contact lenses can also correct the vision without surgery
✓Toric lenses can be used in contact lenses or lens-based procedures to correct astigmatism
✓Severe astigmatism may still be treatable, depending on your prescription, corneal measurements and overall eye health
✓A full eye assessment is needed to decide which treatment option is most suitable
At Focus Clinics, treatment for astigmatism starts with a detailed assessment of your prescription, corneal shape, and overall eye health. This helps us decide whether laser eye surgery is right for you and which approach best fits your eyes.
For suitable patients, LASIK or another laser procedure can reshape the cornea to correct the uneven focusing that causes astigmatic blur, treating astigmatism and any short- or long-sightedness in a single procedure. If your prescription is higher, or your cornea isn’t well suited to laser, a lens-based procedure may be a better option.
We also offer ray-tracing-guided LASIK for suitable patients. This builds the treatment from a detailed optical model of your individual eye rather than a standard profile.
Because astigmatism has both an amount and a direction that have to be matched precisely, this level of planning matters: in a 2026 comparison study, ray-tracing-guided LASIK was significantly more accurate at correcting astigmatism than standard LASIK or SMILE Pro. [3] Published work also reports that ray-tracing planning tends to preserve night-vision quality and can improve contrast sensitivity. [4]
Speak To The Team
We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
Astigmatism is one of the most common reasons people assume they aren’t suitable for laser eye surgery, and in my experience it is usually the opposite. Over 25 years and more than 30,000 vision-correction procedures, I’ve found that most astigmatism falls well within the range we can treat, and today’s technology handles it more precisely than ever.
The part that matters is accuracy. Astigmatism isn’t just a number; it has a direction too, so the correction has to be aligned correctly and sized accurately. That is where ray-tracing-guided LASIK has made a real difference for my patients: by planning treatment from a detailed optical model of each individual eye, it targets astigmatism more precisely, and in my hands, it has reduced how often a second fine-tuning procedure is needed.
I’m honest with patients, though. Not every eye is suited to laser. Very high or irregular astigmatism, or early signs of keratoconus, often means you’re not a good candidate. The only way to know which path is right for you is a full corneal scan and assessment.
My advice is simple: don’t rule yourself out because of astigmatism, but do insist on a proper assessment before anyone recommends a treatment.
— Mr David Allamby MD, Medical Director and Chief Surgeon, Focus Clinics
At Focus Clinics, our team has over 70 years of combined industry experience and has completed over 60,000 successful surgeries.
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Yes. Many people with astigmatism can have laser eye surgery. Astigmatism can occur on its own, but it more commonly appears alongside short-sightedness (myopia) or long-sightedness (hyperopia), which can worsen blur or distortion.
When astigmatism is more noticeable, corrective lenses are usually needed for clear vision. These may include glasses or toric contact lenses designed specifically to correct astigmatism. Some people find toric lenses less comfortable, or notice their vision fluctuating if the lens rotates slightly on the eye.
For suitable patients, laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism by reshaping the cornea so that light focuses more accurately on the retina. With LASIK, the laser removes a very small, precisely planned amount of corneal tissue to even out the curvature and reduce the uneven focusing that causes astigmatic blur.
The laser treatment itself usually takes only seconds, but the full procedure takes longer, typically 5–6 minutes per eye.
Whether laser eye surgery is right for you depends on your astigmatism, overall prescription, corneal measurements, and eye health. Even severe astigmatism may be treatable in some patients, although higher prescriptions may require a different approach or lens-based treatment.
In a normal eye, light enters through the clear cornea, passes through the pupil (the central opening in the iris), and continues through the lens that sits just behind the iris.
Without refractive error, the cornea and lens focus parallel rays of light so they converge into a single, clear image on the retina.
This light-sensitive layer converts light into signals that travel along the optic nerve to ultimately reach the occipital lobe at the rear of the brain.
Neural processes then interpret that information, giving you your visual perception and understanding of the world around you.
Astigmatism most commonly results from an uneven curvature of the cornea, though the natural lens inside the eye can also contribute. Picture the shape of a rugby ball rather than a football.
Typically, horizontal rays of light focus at one point and vertical rays at another, rather than all rays arriving together at a single focal point.
As a result, light from both distant and near objects doesn’t focus cleanly on the retina, and the image appears blurred or distorted.
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We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
Getting my laser eye surgery with Focus was the best decision I ever made. They were so professional and thorough from start to finish. I was clearly informed of all steps from start to finish and on the day of the surgery I was looked after so well, Dr Allamby did an amazing job, it was so quick, easy and painless that I didn't even know it had happened at first!
It's been 3 months since I had my laser eye surgery and I can confirm that the results have been impeccable! The team have always been very professional, attentive and caring. All the aftercare advice provided has really helped my eyes to heal and I can confidently say that they feel more than brand new.
It's been 5 years since i've had laser eye surgery done and it is honestly the best amount of money I have ever spent in my life. I've been suffering for years wearing contact lenses and glasses with constant headaches and dry eyes...For anyone wondering if they should do it, please please please go ahead and do it!
Astigmatism can affect vision in different ways depending on how pronounced it is. Common symptoms include:
Mild astigmatism may cause few noticeable problems, which is why it is often caught during a routine eye examination.
An eye test can measure the amount and direction of astigmatism and assess how it is affecting your vision. These measurements help your optometrist or surgeon decide whether glasses, contact lenses, or surgery may be suitable.
Read more about the signs and symptoms of astigmatism and how it is diagnosed.
Astigmatism can change over time, although the pattern varies from person to person. In some people, it stays relatively stable for years; in others, the amount or axis can shift as the eye develops or ages.
Changes are especially common during childhood and adolescence, while the eye is still developing. This is why regular eye tests matter, especially if a child has blurred vision, headaches, or difficulty reading and concentrating.
In adults, changes in the cornea or natural lens can also affect astigmatism. A noticeable or rapid change in vision should always be assessed, as it can point to an underlying eye condition rather than routine change.
For laser eye surgery, stability matters. Your prescription normally needs to be stable before treatment is considered, so that the result is as predictable as possible.
Astigmatism is often present from birth, and genetics can play a part. It can also develop or change because of conditions that affect the cornea’s shape or surface.
Factors associated with astigmatism include:
Astigmatism can run in families. A family history of astigmatism or certain corneal conditions may increase the likelihood of developing it. In a study of 5,708 families, children whose two parents both had at least 1.00 D of astigmatism had 62% higher odds of having it themselves. When both parents had at least 2.00 D, the odds were approximately three times higher. [5]
Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge forward, producing irregular astigmatism and increasingly distorted vision.
An eye injury or disease that alters or scars the cornea can change its shape and lead to astigmatism.
Astigmatism can sometimes develop or change after eye surgery because surgery may alter the cornea’s curvature.
A change in your prescription doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong, but a rapid or marked change in astigmatism should be evaluated by an eye-care professional to rule out conditions such as keratoconus.
Free retreatment is available if you return to a significant prescription after the initial surgery during the first ten years.
Astigmatism is very common and can affect people of all ages. Many people have only a small amount, which may have little or no noticeable effect on vision, while others have a higher degree that needs correcting.
In fact, a global systematic review and meta-analysis found astigmatism to be the most common refractive error in adults, with a pooled prevalence of around 40%, though the figure varies by region, age, and how astigmatism is defined. [1] In other words, if you have astigmatism, you are in very ordinary company.
A large analysis of 11,624 spectacle prescriptions illustrates how prevalence falls as the threshold rises: [2]
Amount of astigmatism | Proportion of eyes |
|---|---|
At least 0.75 D | 35.7% |
At least 1.00 D | 23.4% |
At least 1.50 D | 10.8% |
At least 2.00 D | 5.6% |
Higher levels of astigmatism are less common than mild astigmatism, but they still occur regularly in clinical practice. Astigmatism is measured in dioptres and forms part of your overall prescription.
The key point for treatment is not simply whether astigmatism is present, but how much there is, its pattern, and whether your eyes are otherwise suitable for correction.
Astigmatism can be corrected in several ways, depending on the amount and type of astigmatism, your age, your eye health and whether you prefer a non-surgical or surgical option.
Glasses are often the simplest way to correct astigmatism. Toric contact lenses are another option, designed specifically to correct the uneven focusing that astigmatism causes. Because they must stay oriented correctly on the eye to work properly, some people notice their vision fluctuate if the lens rotates, especially when they blink.
For suitable patients, LASIK and PRK/LASEK can reshape the cornea to reduce astigmatism and improve focusing. With standard laser treatments, a higher degree of astigmatism can sometimes be left slightly under- or overcorrected, occasionally needing a second procedure to fine-tune the result.
SMILE has been shown to undercorrect moderate-to-high astigmatism, both in a vector analysis study [6] and in the US FDA trial dataset. [7] At Focus Clinics, ray-tracing-guided LASIK may be offered to suitable patients, using detailed eye measurements to support more precise, personalised treatment planning. [3]
For some patients, particularly those with higher prescriptions or eyes that are not suitable for laser treatment, an implantable contact lens (ICL) may be considered. Toric ICLs can correct astigmatism as well as the underlying refractive error while leaving the natural lens in place, and have been shown to give visual outcomes comparable to LASIK for myopia with astigmatism. [8]
For suitable patients, especially as they age, refractive lens exchange may be another option. The natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens, and a toric implant lens can also correct astigmatism.
The amount of astigmatism laser eye surgery can treat depends on more than the prescription alone. Corneal thickness and shape, your overall refractive error and your general eye health all factor into whether treatment is suitable.
At Focus Clinics, most patients with astigmatism up to 6.00 dioptres may be suitable for laser correction, which covers almost all astigmatic prescriptions, although higher prescriptions need particularly careful assessment.
For patients with severe astigmatism, the question isn’t simply whether the prescription falls below a certain number. The surgeon also needs to confirm that enough corneal tissue can be treated safely and that the astigmatism pattern is regular enough for laser correction.
If laser eye surgery is not the best option, lens-based treatments such as a toric ICL or refractive lens exchange may be considered instead.
Laser vision correction (LASIK) for astigmatism is the treatment of choice in most cases. At Focus, we treat 90% of our patients with dual-laser advanced LASIK and 10% with PRK.
We use a high-numerical-aperture femtosecond laser to create the LASIK flap, supporting highly accurate, precise astigmatism treatment.
The WaveLight EX500 laser removes less corneal tissue per dioptre than many other lasers. We can treat most patients up to 6.00 dioptres of astigmatism, which covers almost all astigmatic prescriptions.
Focus has targeted the best reported outcomes for treating astigmatism in the UK. In our peer-reviewed published results, 100% of typical short-sighted patients saw 20/20 or better (measured binocularly, using both eyes together) after LASIK at our clinic, including those with up to 2.00 dioptres of astigmatism, which covers more than 95% of all astigmatism prescriptions.* [9] The great majority of our patients can see even better than 20/20.
We know of no other UK clinic that has matched these published vision results.
* The 100% 20/20 figure is the binocular result from our peer-reviewed published study of wavefront-optimised LASIK for short-sight up to −6.00 dioptres, including up to 2.00 dioptres of astigmatism. [9] For context, real-world studies of ray-tracing-guided LASIK have reported 100% of individual eyes reaching 20/20 or better, a separate and more demanding, eye-by-eye measure. [10]
Speak To The Team
We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
These answers are written and reviewed by Focus Clinics’ chief surgeon, Mr David Allamby MD, who has performed more than 30,000 vision-correction procedures over 25 years. Focus is an Alcon-named Centre of Excellence and European training centre for ray-tracing-guided LASIK.
Yes. Laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism in many suitable patients by reshaping the cornea so that light focuses more accurately on the retina. Suitability depends on factors such as the amount of astigmatism, corneal shape and thickness, your overall prescription and your eye health.
It can in some cases. At Focus Clinics, we can treat astigmatism up to 6.00 dioptres in suitable patients, but higher prescriptions require careful assessment, and some people may be better suited to a lens-based procedure.
Yes. Laser eye surgery can correct astigmatism alongside short-sightedness or long-sightedness in suitable patients. The laser treatment is planned around the full combination of refractive errors present in each eye.
Yes, cataract surgery can correct astigmatism when a suitable toric intraocular lens is used. The natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens chosen to treat the cataract and reduce corneal astigmatism at the same time; the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that toric intraocular lenses give better uncorrected distance vision and less spectacle dependence than standard lenses in eyes with pre-existing astigmatism. [11]
Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea, and that change to the corneal shape is permanent, so the correction is typically stable for many years. However, the eyes can continue to change over time, so later changes in the cornea, the natural lens or your overall prescription can cause astigmatism to change or reappear.
This is quite common and doesn’t rule you out. Astigmatism often affects each eye differently; sometimes only one eye has it, and your surgeon treats each eye according to its own measurements rather than assuming both need the same correction. One eye might need astigmatism correction alongside short- or long-sightedness, while the other needs only a standard correction, or none.
What matters is your prescription and corneal shape in each eye individually, not whether the two eyes match. A full assessment at consultation confirms exactly what each eye needs and whether you’re suitable.
At Focus Clinics, LASIK for short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism currently starts from £4,400 for both eyes. Ray-tracing guided LASIK is £6,500 for both eyes, and PRK/LASEK also starts from £4,400. The final cost depends on the treatment recommended and your prescription.
1. Hashemi H, Fotouhi A, Yekta A, Pakzad R, Ostadimoghaddam H, Khabazkhoob M. Global and regional estimates of prevalence of refractive errors: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Curr Ophthalmol. 2017;30(1):3–22. doi.org/10.1016/j.joco.2017.08.009
2. Young G, Sulley A, Hunt C. Prevalence of astigmatism in relation to soft contact lens fitting. Eye Contact Lens. 2011;37(1):20–25. doi.org/10.1097/ICL.0b013e3182048fb9
3. Molleti S, Pawlowski H, Uyeda RM, et al. Initial visual and refractive outcomes of ray-tracing-guided LASIK (WaveLight Plus) versus KLEx (SMILE Pro). Ophthalmol Ther. 2026. doi.org/10.1007/s40123-026-01475-1
4. Kanellopoulos AJ. Ray-tracing customization in myopic and myopic astigmatism LASIK treatments for low and high order aberrations treatment: 2-year visual function and psychometric value outcomes of a consecutive case series. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:565–574. doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S444174
5. Kam KW, Chee ASH, Zhang Y, et al. Association of maternal and paternal astigmatism with child astigmatism in the Hong Kong Children Eye Study. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(12):e2247795. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47795
6. Jabbarvand M, Khodaparast M, Moravvej Z, et al. Vector analysis of moderate to high myopic astigmatism after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE): 12-month follow-up. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2022;32(6):3312–3320. doi.org/10.1177/11206721221080821
7. Dishler JG, Slade S, Seifert S, Schallhorn SC. Small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the correction of myopia with astigmatism: outcomes of the United States Food and Drug Administration premarket approval clinical trial. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(8):1020–1034. doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.01.010
8. Goes S, Delbeke H. Posterior chamber toric implantable collamer lenses vs LASIK for myopia and astigmatism: systematic review. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2022;48(10):1204–1210. doi.org/10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001007
9. Ziaei M, Mearza AA, Allamby D. Wavefront-optimized laser in situ keratomileusis with the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser and the FEMTO LDV Crystal Line femtosecond laser: 6 month visual and refractive results. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2015;38(4):245–249. doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2015.02.004
10. He G, Bala C. Ray-tracing-guided myopic LASIK: real-world clinical outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2023;49(11):1140–1146. doi.org/10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001286
11. Al-Mohtaseb Z, Steigleman WA, Pantanelli SM, et al. Toric monofocal intraocular lenses for the correction of astigmatism during cataract surgery: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2024;131(3):383–392. doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.10.010
An official Alcon Center of Excellence and European training hub for Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK - the first of its kind in the UK, delivering 20/20 vision in 100% of treated eyes based on published clinical research.
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