Astigmatism Contact Lenses

Many people with astigmatism don't realize that there are astigmatism contact lenses. For years, they have been told that because astigmatism and contact lenses can't work together, they would be doomed to wear eyeglasses forever.

Astigmatism contact lenses, also known as “toric” contact lenses, have been around for years; but only recently have they become more mainstream.  Thanks to ever-improving technology, contact lenses for astigmatism are very common, and even come with a variety of options as well.

But first, it helps to understand why astigmatism contact lenses are different from “normal” contact lenses. Astigmatism is a condition of the eye in which the eye changes its natural shape. A normal eye is shaped round, like a basketball; but with astigmatism, it becomes oblong, more like a football. This change in shape causes blurry vision.

This unusual shape and the resulting vision problems prevent “normal” contact lenses from fitting appropriately. Therefore, eyes with astigmatism need lenses that are shaped specifically for the oblong shape of the eye. Trying to get regular spherical lenses to fit on an astigmatic eye is like trying to get a baseball cap to fit on a football. The result is discomfort and poor vision; and someone who might swear off contact lenses forever.

Contact lenses for astigmatism have basically two lenses built into one, similar to bifocal glasses. This allows for part of the lens to manage the astigmatism, and the other part to correct the vision. They have a mechanism built in that keeps the lens stable and upright in your eye even when you blink or look around. For this reason, these specialty contact lense prices tend to be a little higher than the cost of regular lenses.

As mentioned before, not only are astigmatism contact lenses much more common in the marketplace today, but there are also a wide range of added “options” available. There are contacts that are tinted for easier handling, or colored to change the color of your eye. There are lenses for dry eyes, and lenses with UV protection. There are bifocal contact lenses and progressive contact lenses.

The severity of your astigmatism might determine which of these options are available to you. For people with severe astigmatism, the only option available to them is to go with RGP contact lenses, or “rigid gas permeable” lenses. However, contrary to popular myth, these are not the same as the old-fashioned hard lenses, and are much more comfortable than hard lenses and have their own benefits as well.

You will need to get your prescription from a qualified eye doctor who specializes in fitting contact lenses for astigmatism. You can not use a previous eyeglass prescription, because it will not have the right measurements for the contact to fit to your eye.

When it comes to something as personal and specific as contact lenses, it's wise to see if you can “try on” a pair before investing a lot of money in something you may or may not like. If at all possible see if you can find a site that offers a free trial, and wear them for awhile. Only then can you know for sure whether astigmatism contact lenses are a perfect fit for you.

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