Astigmatism gives your cornea a different curve than most eyes have, and that curve can make picking the right contacts feel tricky. You can wear contacts with astigmatism, and toric or specialty lenses can help you see clearly and comfortably throughout the day.
A quick fitting maps the shape of your eyes, and your optometrist can match you to lenses built for your prescription and the way you use your eyes every day.
What Astigmatism Does To Your Vision
Picture a basketball. A basketball is round on every side. A football curves more in one direction. A healthy eye looks like a basketball, while an eye with astigmatism looks more like a football.
That uneven curve changes how light focuses inside your eye. Light spreads out instead of landing on a single point, and that spread blurs your vision up close and far away.
Astigmatism’s common, and several lens options can help you see more clearly.
Signs You Might Have Astigmatism
Astigmatism can sneak up slowly, so the clues are easy to miss. Watch for these:
- Ghost images or double edges around letters and shapes.
- Stretched headlights and road signs that are hard to read at night.
- Squinting and tired eyes by the end of the day.
- Headaches after reading or spending time on a screen.
- Blurry vision at both close-up and far distances.
Why Regular Contacts Often Don’t Work
Standard contacts carry the same power all the way around the lens, which works fine for a round eye. For an irregularly shaped eye, that leaves part of your vision uncorrected.
But there’s another problem: regular lenses rotate freely on your eye. They float and spin with every blink, so they can’t hold the correction in the right spot.
You might get by with regular soft lenses if your astigmatism’s mild. Most people need something built for the job.
Types Of Contacts For Astigmatism
You’ve got more than a single path here. The right pick depends on how strong your astigmatism is and how your eyes feel throughout the day. Here’s a look at the options:
- Soft toric lenses come as daily, biweekly, or monthly options and offer a comfortable, common starting point for low to moderate astigmatism.
- Rigid gas-permeable lenses hold a firm shape for crisp vision when you need sharper detail.
- Hybrid lenses pair a firm center with a soft outer edge for added comfort.
- Scleral lenses rest on the white part of the eye and suit high astigmatism or dry eyes.
How Toric Lenses Stay In Place
Since regular lenses tend to spin when they’re on the eye, toric lenses seek to solve the spinning problem. They have weighted or thinner zones that keep the lens steady on your eye.
The lens lines up its correction with the angle of your eye’s curve, known as the axis. After each blink, it settles right back into position, so your vision stays sharp through the day.
What To Expect At Your Fitting
A contact fitting for astigmatism goes deeper than a basic eye check. Your optometrist maps the shape of your eye and measures 3 things: the sphere, the cylinder, and the axis. Those numbers guide the lens that’s right for you.
Next comes a trial lens. Your optometrist places it on your eye, lets it settle, then checks how much it rotates.
Expect 1 or 2 follow-up visits to fine-tune the fit until the lens feels comfortable and stays in place.
You Can Wear Colored Contacts
Yes, colored toric lenses exist. And you can wear them, as long as your optometrist gives the okay. Just know the color choices may be more limited than what you’d find in standard tinted lenses.
How To Pick What Fits Your Family
Different family members live different days. A teen on the soccer field needs something different than a parent who wears lenses from morning to night. Here’s a simple way to think it through:
- Reach for daily disposables if allergies, sports, or occasional wear fit your lifestyle, since you toss them after wearing them once.
- Choose monthly lenses to save money if you wear contacts every day.
- Ask about glasses or surgery if contacts aren’t the best fit for your eyes.
What Toric Lenses Cost
Toric lenses can cost more than standard contacts because of the extra design work involved. So ask about annual supply rebates, since they can bring that price down.
Your optometrist can walk you through your options and help you land on a choice that fits your eyes and your budget.
Find Contacts That Fit Your Eyes
Living with astigmatism doesn’t mean giving up contacts. The team at Dr. Jennifer L. Shane & Associates can map your eyes, fit the right lenses, and help every member of your family see clearly.
Book your fitting today and find contacts that fit your life.
