Contacts for Astigmatism
Your eyes are one of the first things that people notice. Prescription contact lenses allow you to show off your natural eye color and enhance your vision at the same time. Yet if you have astigmatism, contacts may have been a hard road for you. The good news is there are contacts made specifically for astigmatism that could give you your clearest vision yet!
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is best described as an eye ball that is not perfectly round. The most optimal shape for the eye, is to be like a golf ball. When someone has astigmatism, their eye lacks that perfect sphere, commonly described as more of a football shape. In reality, this is effecting mostly the front surface of the eye or the cornea.
When light enters into the eye, it should blend evenly giving your vision a clear view, however when you have astigmatism, the light comes in a different angles which frequently causes blurred vision. The good news is, this is a rather easy fix with corrective lenses.
Both eye glasses and contact lenses can correct astigmatism to give you clearer vision. Generally when choosing which to go with, it comes down to personal preference. You should always have a pair of glasses in your prescription, but may opt to wear contacts on a daily basis. Either way, you can correct astigmatism along with nearsightedness and/or farsightedness all at once with the newest lens technology.
Can you tell from an eye prescription if you have astigmatism?
Yes! Your most recent prescription will indicate if you have astigmatism. It will typically not jump right out at you if you are reading it but a doctor can read it for you to let you know.
There should be two columns that can indicate astigmatism. The first column to look at is CYL, which stands for cylinder. When that number is something other than 0, then you have astigmatism. The higher that number is, either + or -, the greater severity of astigmatism you have. Following that, is the AXIS column that tells us where the light is going inside the eye. This number will be between 0 and 180 and can be different for each eye. These two columns tell your doctor how the light enters the eye so that they can get you the correct lens to counteract this.
How do contacts for astigmatism work?
A normal contact has a shape made for that perfect sphere. Contacts that are made specifically to correct vision for astigmatism will have a slightly different shape to fit the eye better. Generally speaking, these are toric lenses. Toric lenses will be a bit thicker than a non toric lens. Often the contacts will also have a small vertical line at the top of the lens itself to indicate which way to put the lens in your eye. This is due to the bottom being weighted to help stay in place.
If you have worn normal contacts in the past and switch to astigmatism contacts, you may notice a difference right away. Due to the improved shape for your eye, your vision often feels clearer- almost like switching to high definition! It will take a bit more time to put them in as you want to find the line and adjust the lens on your finger to get the contact in right side up, but after awhile you will become accustomed to this.
Who can use contacts for astigmatism?
Astigmatism can vary in its degree of severity. Those who have slight to moderate astigmatism can try these contacts out to see how they work. When you just have slight astigmatism, regular contact may work just fine and you could notice very little difference. Those with moderate astigmatism will most likely prefer the switch.
If you have irregular astigmatism, contacts may be more of a burden as they may not fit well either. There are a few different options on type of lenses you can try if this is the case for you. There is still hope if you have irregular astigmatism to get contacts, it just could be a trial and error process to find what is comfortable and fits with your lifestyle.
How long does it take to get used to contacts for astigmatism?
When you first try out contacts for astigmatism, it is important to use them for about 2 weeks straight to not only adjust to them but to see if they will work for you. Taking the time to put them in each morning even if you are someone who uses their contacts only on occasion is important to make sure you are satisfied with the product. It can feel a bit weird at first as the shape is different and touching your eye more closely.
Are there daily and monthly contacts for astigmatism?
Yes! You can get astigmatism contacts that are worn for 30 days (with taking them out and cleaning them each night) or you can get the disposable daily option. If you are happy with your glasses and just want to wear your contacts a few days a week or less, daily contacts can be a great choice as the 30 day supply, although more expensive, will likely last you much longer than a month.
If you prefer to wear your contacts everyday, monthly contacts are a more affordable option. Contacts for astigmatism tend to be slightly more expensive than the regular contacts so you do want to take this into consideration. No matter which way you go, you do want to only use monthly contacts for their 30 day calendar period and then toss them at the end of the month regardless of how many times you actually put them in your eyes- basically it is their shelf life and expiration date.
Here at Perich Eye Centers, we can help you understand your options and help you to figure out which way to go with your corrective lenses. We are happy to test all your options to ensure you get the best vision possible that works for your lifestyle. Contacts for astigmatism are a great way to improve your vision and life- and often we find that our patients report back that the biggest improvement they notice with astigmatism contacts comes when they are driving! If you struggle with clear vision while driving day or night, come see us to try something new!
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