Let’s face it…you and astigmatism have a lot in common: You both dread Mondays. You both wonder why McDonald’s continues to advertise so heavily when everyone in the world knows the golden arches. And you’re both slightly misunderstood.
Astigmatism is not an eye disease. Rather, it is a condition created by a slightly oval, or football-shaped, surface of the eye. Astigmatism tends to be overshadowed by nearsightedness and farsightedness when it comes to patient knowledge, but the truth is that a good percentage of people have it to some degree.
Given their popularity, a very common question we encounter is whether or not a patient with astigmatism can wear contact lenses. Unfortunately, many are under the impression that astigmatism will prevent them from being a candidate for contacts or that lenses for astigmatism (also called toric lenses) are uncomfortable. While this might have been true a number of years ago, never has there been a better time to be a contact lens wearer with astigmatism. Today, options exist in soft, gas-permeable, and hybrid materials to comfortably meet almost all degrees of prescription. In other words, almost anyone who wants to wear contact lenses can rest assured there is a lens out there for them.
Questions? Let’s talk about them in the comments below.
Nice video and good article keep it up !!!
Appreciate the comment and thanks for taking the time to visit our site!
I was told I can’t wear contacts because of astigmatism and that they’d have to be very thick to suit my vision. We are doing a lot of research though because theres bound to be a company out there that has the right contacts for me because HUNDREDS of thousands of people have astigmatism, and companies wouldnt just ignore that, would they?
Anyway, we are really looking for a knowledgeable optometrist or someone who knows all about this stuff. It is very important to me, so your time would not be wasted at all.
Hi Alice,
You are correct…there are lots of options out there for all types of prescriptions and degrees of astigmatism. What options have you discussed with your provider? Have they been open to the idea of working with you to find a solution?
As I wrote in the article, very few people who want to wear contact lenses can’t successfully do so based simply on prescription. If a prescription is beyond the parameters of what is “mass-produced” by the major manufacturers, custom-made lenses can be utilized with a virtually unlimited parameter range. Gas-permeable and hybrid lenses also give the patient and doctor a wider range of options than previously available.
In short, astigmatism is not a reason you can’t wear contact lenses. It might make the initial fitting and diagnostic workup a bit more complex, but certainly not impossible. It is possible there are other factors your provider is taking into consideration when offering her opinion (such as corneal measurements). That’s why a secondary discussion might be useful to determine the exact reasons why the recommendation to avoid contact lenses was made.
Hello!
I was just wondering if it is possible that I’ll just use contact lens with only degree when I have astigmatism? And what will happen, like how will my vision look like, when I do that.
Thank you for your time!
Thanks for the question, Stephanie. I’m not certain what you mean by “degree”. Are you asking if you can wear contact lenses if you have only astigmatism (no nearsightedness or farsightedness)? If so, yes is the answer. Certain prescriptions are better than others for that scenario, but it’s done frequently. Let me know if I misunderstood what you’d like to know.
I apparently have severe astigmatism….
Hello,
I have nearsightedness can I use astigmatism lenses.?
— Sujith
If you also have a degree of astigmatism that would benefit from correction, yes. If your prescription is nearsightedness alone, there is no need.
hello,
can i wear astigmatism lenses with out prescribed.
am totally confused whether should i use those lenses or not could u please help me on this…
Pharmacist has given me those lenses. are there any side effects using those lens?
i don’t have astigmatism.
My eye sight is as below..
Right:
SPH -6.50
CYL -1.25
AX 20
Left:
SPH -7.50
CYL -0.75
AX 190
Contact lens regulations can vary based on location, but a licensed eye care provider should evaluate your needs and determine the proper contact lenses for you. An improper fitting contact lens can result in eye health and visual problems.
thank you..
Hi,
When I was younger, about 10, I was told I could not wear contact lenses because of my eye shape (astigmatism).
I got a second opinion several year later when I was 15. The doctor said I could definitely wear them. However, we tested many different contacts and none of them worked. Some felt very uncomfortable, and with all of them they made my vision worse. I stopped trying and gave up after about the 10th trial. What’s wrong with my eyes? Glasses work fine but contacts were terrible. I’m 16 now and wear glasses at night and rarely in public which is why I wanted contacts.
Thanks.
Hard to say, Tomas. It’s possible you have a “challenging” shape (i.e., very steep, very flat, high degree of astigmatism, etc.) of the surface of your eye making many of the contact lens options you’ve tried unsuccessful. A topographical map of the surface, if not performed already, could give insight into which contact lenses might be best for the shape of your eye.
Hi
I am have astigmatism in my right eye, and just started wearing contact lenses about a month ago. They feel good but notice my right is a little blurry, is it that it is on wrong? Should I go back to my Dr.?
Hi Elizabeth,
Letting your provider know would be a good first step. He/she can re-evaluate the lens on the eye and determine if any modifications could improve your vision. Since the fit and position of contact lenses for astigmatism is critical, small changes can sometimes make a big difference. Good luck! Sounds like you’re on the road to success.
Hi,
I have astigmatism on my right eye (200), is it possible to wear non-toric lenses but with power to correct my vision? I mean, just use the regular soft lenses which is not specifically made for astigmatism. How will my vision be like?
By the way, I intend to use them primarily for basketball. I usually wear eyeglasses.
Thanks.
Good morning! While you could most likely wear a non-toric lens, your overall prescription would determine how acceptable the vision would be. For example, if you are significantly nearsighted or farsighted in addition to your astigmatism, you might feel that a spherical (non-toric) lens allows you to see OK for basketball. Best to ask your eye doctor for his/her impression.
Hi! I have high astigmatism. They are about 300 both left and right. Is there any chance that I could wear contact lens?
Yes! There are other factors that go into successful lens wear, but speaking strictly from a prescription standpoint 3 diopters of astigmatism is not all that uncommon for contact lens wearers. Definitely talk about it with your provider as they’d be able to give you thoughts specific to your case.
Hi. I have astigmatism for both eyes, and additionally, my eyes don’t have the same grade. Would it greatly affect my eyes if I choose to wear contact lenses that aren’t made for astigmatism and are also a single grade? I plan to buy normal contact lenses with -3.25 grade.
Right:
SPH -3.00
CYL -2.00
AXIS 5
Left:
SPH -3.50
CYL -2.00
AXIS 180
You likely won’t see well without accounting for the astigmatism, but best to run your question by your eye doctor.
Can u say if we don’t have astigmatism if we use cylindrical lens..can it cause any problems
It will likely produce sub-optimal vision and might lead to discomfort/irritation. It’ll also lead to less money in your wallet as cylindrical/toric contact lenses are generally more expensive that round/spherical ones
Hello!
I have astigmatism which is
Right Left
SPH -0.75 -0.75
CYL -1.00 -0.50
AXS 6 15
VA 6/7 6/6
I wonder if I can get contact lenses only by my glass prescription and if it is possible to get contact lenses at this low astigmatism.
Thanks for your help!!!
Hi! A doctor would be able to determine the best correction for you and whether correction of astigmatism in the contact lenses would be helpful or not.