Astigmatism affects the eyes in a way that makes wearing some forms of standard contact lenses uncomfortable. If you have this condition or are uncertain whether you do, come see our optometrist, Dr. Charles Register, at Beach Vision, serving New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Ponce Inlet, FL. He can help to find the best treatment option for your astigmatism, even if you need hard-to-fit contact lenses.
About Astigmatism
Each of your eyes has a cornea located inside the lens. Both of these structures must curve smoothly and evenly. This precise curvature enables your eyes to see clearly by correctly refracting light toward your retina.
However, for some people, either the cornea or lens has a small bulge in it. This change in the curve of the eye can impact how light passes through it, resulting in blurry images. To make up for the way eyes with astigmatism move light, an eye doctor will prescribe glasses or contacts. These compensate for any eye imperfections and help light refract toward the retina, correcting this form of refraction error. During a regular optometry exam, the eye care doctor will notice if you have astigmatism and how severe the curve is.
Why You Need Hard-to-Fit Contacts for Astigmatism
Because there is not a universal solution for everyone with astigmatism, you will require a specialty fitting for your contacts. Your eye doctor will take precise measurements of the surfaces of your eyes to find the right solution for giving you the sharpest vision and greatest comfort. By noting your form and degree of astigmatism, an eye doctor can determine if you can wear certain soft contacts or need hard lenses.
Types of Contacts for Astigmatism
When it comes to wearing contact lenses for astigmatism, many people cannot use regular soft contacts unless they have a mild form of the condition. Standard soft lenses often do not correct vision as well in people with curvature problems in their eyes, such as astigmatism.
Many people with moderate to serious degrees of astigmatism get the best vision correction by using hard lenses called rigid gas permeable (RGP) contacts. These plastic lenses have a stiff structure that holds its shape while on the eye. The material of the lenses allows air to flow through for comfort. You may notice that you will take a little longer to get comfortable wearing these types of contacts compared to standard soft lenses.
An alternative for those with moderate astigmatism to RGP lenses is toric contacts. These are soft contacts that maintain their correct alignment to correct for astigmatism. For instance, when you blink, your contacts rotate. If you have astigmatism, this rotation can impact your vision. However, toric lenses turn themselves back to the correct position, to always keep your vision sharp.
Set Up an Appointment at Our Optometry Clinic
If you know that you have astigmatism and want to switch from glasses to contacts, phone our office at Beach Vision at 386-423-7788 to set up an appointment with our optometrist, Dr. Register. We serve the communities of Edgewater, Ponce Inlet, and New Smyrna Beach, FL. With the correct fitting for contacts, you will find that you do not have to wear eyeglasses to see well if you have astigmatism. Let our eye care expert help you to find the best contacts for your eyes.