Many people use contact lenses as an alternative to glasses to correct their vision. Astigmatism contact lenses differ from other types of contacts due to their irregular shape. They can be soft or stiff, and they also vary in terms of when and how long you can wear them before they need to be replaced.
Contact lenses correct several types of vision problems, including myopia, myopia and astigmatism. While glasses can usually also remedy all of these problems, many people prefer contacts for several reasons. Some benefits of contact lenses are their durability, their ease of use, and the fact that they can sometimes properly vision more effectively than glasses.
Astigmatism is a condition caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Some of the most important features include blurred vision and a distorted view of the places. People with astigmatism usually require toric contact lenses. A toric lens is curved to fit the unique shape of one’s cornea. Since people often experience either myopia or myopia together with astigmatism, toric lens usually contains two different forces. An advantage of astigmatism contact lenses is that their unique design usually holds them in place better than standard lenses. One possible disadvantage is that they are relatively more expensive.
Essentially, there are two types of toric lenses for astigmatism – soft lenses and rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Soft contact lenses are made of water and flexible plastic called hydrogels, both of which allow oxygen to reach the cornea. Another alternative that became available more recently is a silicone hydrogel lens, which allows even more oxygen to the cornea due to silicone permeability. While ordinary soft lenses tend to match the shape of the eye, making them less effective at correcting astigmatism, soft toric lenses are specifically designed to help improve one’s vision.
Rigid astigmatism contact lenses, on the other hand, are usually made from a combination of ordinary plastic and silicone, and they are only slightly flexible. They tend to retain their shape better on the eye, while allowing oxygen to reach the cornea. Although most patients prefer the comfort of soft lenses, some vision professionals recommend rigid lenses for what they consider to be superior vision correction.
Once someone has decided on soft or rigid astigmatism contact lenses, they can then choose lenses based on how often they need to be replaced. Some types include daily consumables, which are worn for a day and discarded. Other contacts can stay in while you sleep and stay overnight. Some can be worn for days or weeks, except when sleeping, and then replaced periodically. Other lenses can be worn for several days, including overnight. But even these should still be removed once a week and replaced at regular intervals. Daily lenses can usually be worn for up to 30 days.
It is recommended that one who wears astigmatism contact lenses have a proper professional fitting, and visit his or her eye doctor regularly to make sure the contacts are working properly. People with only mild astigmatism may not need toric lenses at all. Standard lenses may be capable of reshaping the cornea just enough to correct astigmatism, along with myopia or myopia as they are also prescribed.
- Contact lenses can be used for near-vision, making it easier for people to see up close.
- Those with astigmatism who wear contacts usually have to use toric lenses that fit the shape of their cornea.
- Corrective contact lenses for astigmatism can be soft or hard.
- Soft lens contacts are the most common.
- A normal eye and one with astigmatism.
- Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.
