Contact Lenses for Astigmatism Supplied by a Redding, CA Optometrist
If you have astigmatism, your vision may appear blurry both up close and far away. Corrective eyewear is one option you have to fix the problem; however, not every patient can wear a standard pair of contacts and see clearly. For this reason, Redding Eyecare Center, serving Redding, CA and the nearby region, offers contact lenses to optimize vision in patients with astigmatism.
Who Needs Special Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when your eye doesn’t have a round shape. Individuals with astigmatism have eyes that resemble a football. As a result, the light that enters your eyes doesn’t reflect on your retinas appropriately. Your vision looks blurry as a result. Some people only experience blurring when looking at objects that are far away while some individuals with astigmatism experience issues with their up-close vision as well. Other symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Headaches
- Eyestrain
- Difficulty seeing at night
In patients with mild astigmatism, standard contacts work. They don’t accommodate the unique shape of a person’s eye who has astigmatism, though. Specialized contacts that address the shape of the eye can optimize vision in patients who have a moderate to severe astigmatism.
Types of Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Toric lenses are specialized contacts for patients with astigmatism. These contacts have different magnifying powers in different meridians to optimize your vision at different angles. Often, toric lenses are weighted at the bottom. This ensures the contacts remain in the position that they should.
Some contacts are labeled as “toric lenses.” Instead, they’re designated as “contacts for astigmatism.” They have the same concept.
Just like standard disposable contact lenses, toric lenses and lenses for astigmatism are available as daily, weekly, and monthly lenses. Generally, the monthly lenses are slightly more expensive, but you can save money in the long run when choosing monthly lenses. You may also choose contacts for astigmatism that you can wear overnight and not have to take out each day.
Another option patient has in terms of contact lenses for astigmatism is gas-permeable lenses that they can sleep in. You undergo a special fitting process to create a pair of contacts that you sleep in. This process is known as Ortho-K. At night, these lenses reshape your eye, so your eyes have the shape of a ball. You take out the contact lenses when you wake up, and you can see clearly all day without the need for corrective eyewear. These lenses are harder than soft lenses but aren’t as rigid as traditional hard contact lenses.