Bifocal Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism and Presbyopia

If you need bifocals and you have astigmatism, then bifocal toric contact lenses can free you from your eyeglasses forever!

Until recently, most people who have either astigmatism or presbyopia (you need glasses to read up-close) believed that contact lenses were not an option. Only in recent years has it become widely known and accepted that there are bi focal contact lenses and contact lenses for astigmatism. But people with astigmatism and presbyopia?  Seems impossible, right?

Wrong. Thanks to the ever-changing and constantly improving technology in the contact lens industry, many brand name contact lenses have designed state-of-the-art bifocal toric contact lenses. These lenses allow people who have two different vision conditions, presbyopia and astigmatism, have one corrective contact lens.

Presbyopia is an age-related condition of the eye; it usually occurs in the early forties. It is believed that as we age, our eyes become less elastic; which results in the eye being unable to focus at close distances, mainly when reading. It is extremely common, and happens to nearly everyone at some point in their life.

For people who only develop presbyopia but otherwise have good vision, they merely need “reader glasses” when reading. However, if you need glasses or contacts to correct your vision for distances, and you have presbyopia, then you need bifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Bifocal merely means that there are two prescriptions, or two “powers,” in one lens; one to help you see far away, and one to help you read. As you look up (for distances) or down (to read), your pupil looks through the different powers.

An astigmatism, on the other hand, is a condition of the eye that makes the eye more of an oblong shape, like a football; instead of spherical, like a ball, which is how a normal, healthy eye is shaped. The oblong 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; this is known as a toric contact lense. Toric lenses 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.

It is not uncommon to be affected by both presbyopia and astigmatism; however they do require these specific type of corrective lenses. As you might imagine, bifocal toric contact lenses are considered specialty contact lenses, and need to be fitted specifically for your eyes by an eye care professional; and can take a little longer than a “normal” eye appointment. When you call to make your appointment, be sure to tell them that you are coming in for a contact lense prescription for bifocal toric contact lenses, and they will schedule you appropriately.

So, if you've ever been told you are doomed to wearing eyeglasses forever, think again! Bifocal toric contact lenses might be just the miracle you have been waiting for.

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