Many people prefer contact lenses over traditional glasses for many different reasons. However, fitting people with astigmatism is a difficult process, but it can be done. There are several different types of contact lenses that will cater to those with astigmatism.
Toric Contact lenses
Toric lenses are specially designed soft contact lenses that are built to correct astigmatism. These are different from the normal spherical contact lenses in two ways. First of all, toric lenses will have different powers in different places around the lens according to the astigmatism, as opposed to spherical lenses, which have the same power all the way across the lens. Secondly, because the toric lenses are not uniform and will not work unless they are oriented in the correct direction, they are weighted at the bottom of the lens. This allows the lens to sit in the orientation it needs to in order to function and work as it should.
These lenses take some time to get used to, as the weight is noticeable for the first little while you wear them.
Gas Permeable Lenses
Gas permeable lenses are rigid lenses, unlike spherical and toric lenses. These lenses do not conform to the irregular shape of the cornea, so they do not need the extra weight the toric lenses do. These lenses work by creating its own perfect surface on the eye, fixing the refraction problems caused by astigmatism. This, in effect, corrects the astigmatism without the concern of the lens shifting.
Getting used to these lenses takes less time because there is no orientation. However, they may become uncomfortable due to their rigidity.
Hybrid Contact lenses
Hybrid contact lenses are lenses that combine the best of both worlds. They have a rigid viewing area surrounded by a soft, flexible fitting area. The combination of these two means that the extra weight is not required to keep the lens in the orientation that it needs to be, but with the fitted region, it is not likely to slide and shift as much as the plain rigid lens.
Wearing these lenses will take some time to get used to. While they do not have the extra weight the toric lenses do, they still have some of the same feel as the toric lenses due to the fitted area. They also will have similarities to the gas permeable contacts because of their rigidity. Fitting them the first few times will take some time, but it will all be worth it in the end.
If you have any questions about what contact lenses to wear with astigmatism, consider contacting a local specialist, such as EyeCare About Vegas: Dr. R Dougal Morrison & Dr. Christopher Coker.
Share12 February 2016
Vision problems can be sneaky. When my daughter started having trouble in school, nobody thought that the problem could be with her vision. She wasn't complaining about not being able to see ; she was acting out instead. Plus, she could read the eye chart. It took a lot of trial and error to realize that while she could see, her eyes weren't working together correctly. She needed vision therapy to get herself back on track. I started this blog to share information with other concerned parents about how vision affects learning. Don't let a vision problem sneak by you and impact your child's education.
