Giants' Baseman Pablo Sandoval Receives LASIK for Astigmatism

Earlier this month, San Francisco Giants' third baseman Pablo Sandoval underwent LASIK eye surgery. Sandoval received LASIK only in his left eye. He had been experiencing vision problems in that eye since 2010. Allegedly, Sandoval has a slight degree of astigmatism in his left eye.

Sandoval has tried contact lenses and prescription goggles to correct his vision. LASIK will allow him to continue playing baseball without the hassle of glasses or contacts. Many professional athletes – baseball players and others – have received LASIK and been quite satisfied with the result.

Some people have conjectured that Sandoval's vision problem is to blame for his trouble hitting right-hand. Astigmatism causes vision to be blurry at all distances. This blurriness is caused by the irregular shape of the cornea. The cornea should be a sphere, like a baseball. An astigmatic cornea is shaped like a football. LASIK surgery uses laser energy to reshape the curvature of the cornea.

Depending on the degree and severity of astigmatism, LASIK may be a suitable treatment. Some cases of astigmatism cannot be corrected with LASIK, and an alternative treatment may be more appropriate.

If you have astigmatism or another vision disorder and would like to know if LASIK is right for you, please contact an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.