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Astigmatism is a hereditary condition, but it can also be caused by eye injury or cataract surgery. Astigmatism may occur in one eye or both and results when the cornea is not properly shaped. A healthy cornea will be round in shape; however with astigmatism, the cornea will be irregular in shape. An astigmatism prevents light entering through the cornea to focus properly on the back wall of the eye. People with astigmatism experience blurred vision correlating to the degree of irregularity in the cornea; however, the condition will often be seen in combination with near or far sightedness
There are various treatments available for astigmatism, including surgery, glasses and contacts. Contacts are not as invasive as surgery and not appearance altering like glasses, making them an attractive option for many people.
The type of contacts your optometrist will recommend depends largely on the degree of astigmatism you have. Mild astigmatisms may be corrected with gas permeable standard, or spherical, contacts. These lenses are made from a more rigid material and are able to create the even circular shape needed to correct the wearer's vision.
Specialized astigmatism contacts are also known as toric lenses. For those with moderate to severe astigmatism, toric lenses will be recommended by your optometrist. Unlike spherical lenses for patients with mild or no astigmatism, toric lenses designed to stay in place and correct the irregular corneal shape. These lenses are weighted with a top and bottom. Unlike standard spherical lenses that will move and twist as the wearer blinks, toric lenses have a heavier bottom. Regardless of how they are placed on the eye, the heavier end will move to the bottom of your eye and the lens will stay in place. Once in place, toric lenses will also reshape the cornea, rather than conform to it.
Due to their specialized features, toric lenses are generally more expensive than spherical lenses; however the benefits outweigh the costs. Unfortunately, not all astigmatism can be corrected with contact lenses. If you suffer from astigmatism, consult your optometrist to see if toric lenses are right for you.
What else can I help you with?
What are toric contact lenses?
Toric contact lenses are people with astigmatism. They effectively have two prescriptions in them. They work very well and if you have severe astigmatism you can have them made especially for your correction. Many toric contact lenses come in standards prescription with 10 degree differences between them. The higher your astigmatism, the more sensitive you will be to the axis (degrees) of the lens.
How can I have my astigmatism corrected?
Contact lenses for correction of astigmatism are generally either gas permeable lenses, which are semi-hard lenses, or toric soft contacts. There is also a type called Orthokeratology lenses which are worn at night to help reshape the eye. Your Opthamologist will know they best type of you or if contacts are even the right way to go.
What sort of eye problem are toric lenses designed for?
Toric contacts are specially made contacts for people suffering from astigmatism. This is an eye defect that arises from an eye being unable to focus on objects, resulting in blurry vision. Glasses and laser surgery can also help the vision of people with astigmatism.
What are the best contacts for astigmatism?
I have worn colored contact lenses for years. I just had an eye appointment this last week. My left eye has toric astigmatism. I inquired about being able to continue wearing colored contacts. I was assured I could continue, as long as they fit on my eye and the doctor was satified with the fit. They unfortunatly cost more because they are specially made to fit your eye.
What is covered by insurance for cataract surgery with Toric lens implant?
Is toric lens astigmatism covered by insurance
Which lenses should be used to correct the defect of astigmatism?
Astigmatism can be corrected with toric lenses. Toric lenses have different powers in different meridians to correct the varying degrees of astigmatism present in the eye. These lenses are designed to address the irregular curvature of the cornea typical in astigmatism.
Why are soft contacts no good for astigmatism?
Soft lenses cannot correct astigmatism because it only has a sphere lens. For a lens to correct astigmatism it must have both sphere and cylinder lenses. Cylindrical lenses are used to correct the power of the astigmatism at a certain axis, spheres are only capable of correcting power. But it's not exactly true that soft lenses are no good for astigmatism. They are, we call them Toric contact lenses.
Which Licences should be used to correct the defect of astigmatism?
To correct astigmatism, cylindrical lenses are typically used in prescription glasses or contact lenses. These lenses have different curvatures in different meridians, allowing them to compensate for the uneven shape of the cornea or lens that causes astigmatism. Additionally, toric lenses, which are specifically designed for astigmatism, can also be used in both glasses and contact lenses for effective correction.
Where can one get a prescription for Focus Dailies Toric?
You can get a prescription for Focus Dailies Toric from an optometrist. Once you have the prescription, you can easily order the contacts online from websites such as 1800 Contacts.
Is it true that you cannot use contact lens if you have astigmatism?
No, that’s not true. You can use contact lenses if you have astigmatism, there are special lenses called toric lenses designed specifically to correct it.
Where can one find Toric lenses?
Toric lenses can be found from many different stores and retailers. Some examples of stores that sell Toric lenses include Walgreens, and 1800 Contacts.
What is corneal astigmatism?
Astigmatism is blurred vision caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Astigmatism is when the cornea of the eye is shaped like a rugby ball rather than being spherical. It causes the eye to have two focal points rather than one and can lead to strain and headaches if uncorrected. Astigmatism is the 'Cylinder' value in a prescription. Around 70% of people who wear spectacles have astigmatism. It can also be corrected with toric contact lenses and laser eye surgery. People with severe astigmatism may experience double vision if it not corrected. Astigmatism can indeed worsen with time, as the eye grows and changes. There is nothing you can do to prevent this change and it will only require a change to the prescription in your glasses in order to correct your vision. It is also possible for the astigmatism to go away. It's when the eyeball is not perfectly round.
