If you’ve ever been to the eye doctor to get contact lenses to correct astigmatism, then he or she might have mentioned getting toric contact lenses. But what are they and how do they help in treating astigmatism? In today’s post, your trusted optometrists over at Joel H. McGahen OD shares everything you need to know.
To understand what toric contact lenses are, we should first try to understand what astigmatism is. Astigmatism is a common but generally treatable imperfection in the curvature of your eye that causes blurry vision. It occurs when your cornea or the lens inside your eye has mismatched curves. To put it more simply, astigmatism is a condition in which your eye isn’t completely round.
Basically, toric contact lenses correct astigmatism issues that arise from this difference in curvature. It provides different refractive powers on the vertical and horizontal orientations to treat astigmatism.
Just like regular contact lenses, toric lenses need to be prescribed by your eye doctor. Finding the correct fit is absolutely critical since toric lenses need to be in a specific orientation and need to stay on your eyes the correct way. Manufacturers specifically design toric lenses to help them stay put.
Toric contact lenses are made in two ways: soft and rigid gas permeable or RGP. Soft toric lenses are more comfortable to wear, however, you will need extra care in fitting for them to stay in place. RGP lenses, on the other hand, are better in staying put but generally need a longer initial adjustment time and can be drier and more delicate.
If you need to get fitted for new toric contact lenses, turn to a low-vision specialist like Joel H. McGahen OD. To schedule an appointment, please feel free to give us a call at (717) 470-7496 or, alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form. We serve patients in Chambersburg, Greencastle and Shippensburg, PA, as well as its nearby communities.