@barbaradh
I also am extremely nearsighted with astigmatism. When cataracts really began interfering with my vision, I opted for laser surgery to remove the cataracts as well as lessen the astigmatism. It was absolutely worth it; my eyesight has not been this good since I was 8 years old. I did not want to lose all close up vision, so was offered the choice of having one eye corrected for distance and the other for close vision. It really has worked out pretty well for me. I do still need reading glasses, also for driving, but most of the time I’m fine without any glasses. I didn’t realize how occluded my vision had become until after the surgery. I did have to pay extra to have the laser procedure, but it was worth it because of the astigmatism. I did have a skilled, very experienced surgeon, who spoke with and communicated well with my Opthamologist, that was really important. He was very clear about any risks involved, but felt I could have a good outcome, and I have. If you can find a doctor with a good track record whom you trust, I would say go for it.