Toric Contact Lenses For Astigmatism
“I can’t wear soft contacts; I have astigmatism.” This once-true statement is now simply a myth.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a condition caused by an irregular shape of the cornea. The cornea is part of the eye that is transparent and covers the iris and pupil and while it is designed to be spherical, sometimes they are irregularly shaped. Astigmatic eyes have a second curvature in their cornea that inhibits the cornea’s ability to focus light and allow you to see clearly. Therefore, many people suffering from astigmatism endure blurred vision and skewed depth perception. While astigmatism may sound like a rare condition, thirty-three percent of Americans are diagnosed with it. Some have speculated that sitting too close to a television screen or spending too much time on any LED screens may cause astigmatism, however, that is a myth.
A significant amount of people who suffer from this condition are actually born with it. While astigmatism is a direct result of an affected cornea, that is not the only symptom of astigmatism. Many who suffer from this condition report blurred vision, eye strain, and painful headaches. Furthermore, many patients report that they are forced to squint their eyes to see clearly, probably exacerbating all of the aforementioned symptoms. Because astigmatism alters the shape of the cornea, patients in the past have not always been able to wear contacts as they don’t fit their eyes perfectly and may even hinder vision further. However, with the advent of Toric Contact Lenses, people with astigmatism can wear contacts that fit their altered cornea.
What are Toric Contact Lenses?
Toric contact lenses are designed to correct astigmatism and are made specifically to fit the eye of the astigmatic patient. These specific contact lenses replace the perfectly spherical surface of a standard contact lens with more of an oblong shape, allowing astigmatism patients to use contact lenses instead of only having the option to purchase a traditional pair of glasses. Toric lenses must be inserted into the eye in a very specific way to ensure that your line of vision remains clear and can be made of either soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP or GP) lens material. While rigid gas permeable lenses are available, soft toric lenses are more common.
Toric contact lenses are also designed so they stay on your eye in the correct placement so that you can have proper vision. However, there is the possibility that a soft toric lens may rotate considerably while wearing them and not be as effective since they are not sitting correctly on your eye. If this rotation happens often, patients may consider a rigid gas-permeable lens since they are known to move less. While rigid gas permeable lenses have a longer initial adjustment period, once that time is over they are similar in comfort to soft contact lenses and do not require extra work to maintain them.
Toric lenses can be worn daily or even bought in long-term form. There are even colored toric contact lenses that some patients purchase. However, colored toric lenses require even further customization and can be more expensive. If you suffer from astigmatism, finding the right fit for your contact lenses and being able to see properly is essential. Do you have questions? Contact King and Rose Optical today to schedule a consultation and determine which type of toric lenses will work best for you to help you see and feel best.
