Astigmatism is a fairly common eye condition: about one in three people suffer from this condition. The cornea (the clear outer surface of the eyes) of patients with astigmatism is shaped more like a football instead of a perfectly round ball (which is the ideal shape for your eyes). This irregular curve bends light more in one direction and causes blurry vision. Fortunately, moderate astigmatism can be easily corrected using toric contact lenses.
How are toric lenses different from normal contact lenses? Lumen Optometric, your trusted scleral optometrist, elaborates on the key features of toric lenses below:
Normal contacts have are spherical-shaped whereas toric lenses are shaped like the side of a donut. Thanks to this unique shape, toric lenses have different refractive powers that can correct astigmatism. They also have a small weight in their edges make sure your contacts return to their proper alignment after you blink. (Whenever you blink, the contacts on your eye rotate.)
Why It’s Important That Your Toric Contacts Fit Well
It’s important that your contacts fit properly, but it’s especially so for toric lenses. That’s because ill-fitting toric lenses that slip easily won’t be able to improve the clarity of your vision.
Toric lenses are either made of soft or hard (also known as rigid gas permeable) lenses. Soft lenses are comfortable to wear, but hard lenses—which are more likely to stay in place—tend to perform better than soft lenses. However, it usually takes a longer time to adjust to hard lenses. If you want to learn more about toric lenses as well as other treatment options, like neurolens treatment, for other vision conditions, consult your eye doctor.
Looking for eye specialists near you?
Lumen Optometric, a family-owned practice, offers a wide range of professional eye care services, including toric lens fitting and dry eye treatment services. To schedule an appointment, call us at (626) 921-0199 or fill out this form.
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