Dealing with a refractive error can be challenging for anyone. Depending on how affected your vision is, you may have to spend some time finding a solution that fits your needs best.
This is especially true when you have astigmatism, but astigmatism can pose its own set of unique challenges that could be tough to address without a professional’s help. Astigmatism eventually develops in most adults, to varying degrees, and you may wish to correct it using glasses or even laser eye surgery. However, many people turn to contact lenses because of their ability to provide comfortable, clear vision without expensive solutions.
The Eyes Now team is dedicated to providing top-of-the-line solutions for all types of refractive errors, including astigmatism, and our contact lens exam and fitting process will help ensure you see clearly at any distance.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is an imperfection of the eye’s cornea or lens’s curvature, which can cause blurry vision at both near and far distances. Because of the different shape, you may have different prescriptions for both your vertical and horizontal meridians.
Newborns generally have some degree of astigmatism, but the error is usually minimal and doesn’t need correction. However, over time the issue may become more pronounced, and it could lead to other symptoms, including:
- Squinting
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
- Poor night vision
The issues you may experience with astigmatism may be exacerbated if you have another refractive error, like myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).
Types of Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Astigmatism can affect your vision quite differently than it affects others, and not every solution is right for everyone. Before you settle on a contact lens type, it’s essential to book a contact lens fitting with our team to help determine the best contact lens for your situation.
We feature a dazzling collection of world-class contact lenses, but some of the best for addressing astigmatism include:
Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) Lenses
Rigid gas-permeable (RGP or GP) contact lenses are made of durable plastics that help the contacts retain their shape when worn while also allowing oxygen to permeate through the lens and keep your eyes comfortable.
RGP lenses can be designed into spherical or toric shapes to help address different degrees of astigmatism. Moderate cases can be addresses with spherical lenses, while higher cases may require toric lenses.
RGP lenses are a fantastic choice for those looking for superior visual acuity and longevity from their contact lenses, but they can take a while to fit properly. RGP lenses need to be measured custom to your eye’s shape and corneal measurements, and they could take more time to get used to compared to soft contact lenses.
Toric Lenses
Toric lenses are fantastic for correcting vision problems related to astigmatism because of the unique way they are designed. Toric lenses are shaped differently from traditional contact lenses to help correct your vision on the horizontal and vertical axis. These lenses also include a special weight at the bottom, allowing the lens to maintain its position on your eye.
Toric lenses are either made of soft hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, making them extremely comfortable to wear and very easy to get used to. However, it requires a professional to fit these lenses properly because of the lenses’ special shape and weight. You may have to try a few different brands and designs to ensure you are getting the clear, comfortable vision you deserve.
Hybrid Lenses
Hybrid contact lenses are made of 2 different materials: a rigid gas-permeable center to provide crisp, clear vision, and a soft hydrogel “skirt” that helps make the lenses comfortable to wear throughout the day.
However, hybrid lenses need to fit perfectly so you can achieve the vision and comfort you deserve. Because of this, you will need to have our team fit you for these lenses. Like with all the different types of contact lenses on this list, it could take a couple of tries to find the right lenses for you.
Multifocal Astigmatism Lenses
Multifocal lenses are a special type of contact lens designed with multiple prescriptions to help provide clear vision at all distances. In many cases, multifocals are recommended for adults who develop presbyopia as they age. Still, new designs are helping patients finding the vision they need while living with both astigmatism and presbyopia.
Some of these lenses could have an aspheric design (which corrects vision by having a prescription for distance vision at the edge of the lens and a prescription for near vision at the center) or designed with concentric rings with different powers for different distances. Hybrid multifocals are also available to provide excellent vision and comfort.
Multifocal astigmatism lenses are fairly new to the market and are a great option for patients who have both astigmatism and presbyopia. Previously, multifocal lenses weren’t an option for people with astigmatism. Eyes Now is excited to be offering this new contact lens option for patients.
The Importance of Professional Contact Lens Fittings
To get the most out of your contact lenses, it’s vital that you come to our team for a professional fitting. Every eye is different, and to help ensure you see as clearly as possible, you need to make sure your contact lenses are fitted correctly and made of the right materials.
Not only does our contact lens fitting process match you with contact lenses to improve your vision, but we will also look for any potential eye problems you may have to ensure you can wear your contacts comfortably.
At Eyes Now, you will find contact lenses for all ages, in all materials, and for any ailment. All you have to do is book an appointment with our team, and we will get to work finding you crisp, clear, comfortable vision. Please, contact us today!
