What is the Best Contact for Astigmatism?
Do you have Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common vision condition that causes blurred vision. It occurs when the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) is irregularly shaped or sometimes because of the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregularly shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light-sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance. This can lead to eye discomfort and headaches. Astigmatism often co-exists with myopia (nearsightedness), and hyperopia (farsightedness). Usually, the surface of the cornea is round, like a basketball. For people with astigmatism, the surface is shaped like a football, and the eye is not able to focus light rays to a single point. Astigmatism can be easily corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Learn about the types of contacts for Astigmatism
The type of contact lens you have depends on the type of astigmatism you have. Your optometrist will be able to prescribe the right type of contacts for your condition. The contact lens for you could be one of the following:
Types of Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Toric Contact Lenses – Toric contact lenses are specially designed to correct moderate amounts of astigmatism. These are made of either a hydrogel material or a highly breathable silicone hydrogel. The word Toric comes from the geometric shape ‘torus.’ A torus looks like a donut, and Toric lenses are shaped like a slice of a donut so they align with the irregularly shaped cornea to give the wearer proper vision. Toric contact lenses need to be prescribed by the doctor who can choose contact lenses that are right for your vision and customize them accordingly.
Gas Permeable Contact Lenses – Gas permeable contact lenses can correct astigmatism without being shaped like a Toric. These contacts for astigmatism are rigid and retain their spherical shape instead of molding to the irregular shape of the cornea. This uniform curve of the gas permeable contact lens replaces the irregularly shaped cornea as the primary refracting surface of the eye. It takes more time fitting gas permeable contact lenses as compared to fitting soft contact lenses and costs more than getting fitted with Toric lenses. Almost 75% of the astigmatic participants said that their vision was better with gas permeable contact lenses. Out of the test subjects, only 10% had worn their gas permeable contact lenses prior to the study, and 60% ended up wearing these gas permeable lenses after the study.