Can I get contacts with astigmatism?
Do you have a cornea (the front part of the eye) that’s not evenly round? Congratulations, you’re in good company since nearly half the population has astigmatism—a common disorder that can affect vision.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism causes the cornea to be shaped more like a football cut in half, rather than a basketball shape. This focuses light differently at the back of the eye resulting in a distorted or stretched image.
This distortion magnifies any existing imperfections that exist on your cornea. That isn’t the whole story though, astigmatism is a complicated issue. If you’re curious, you can learn more about it here.
Luckily, modern contact lenses can correct astigmatism and nearsightedness or farsightedness at the same time.
Can I wear contact lenses if I have astigmatism?
Of course, you can! Thanks to toric technology, the astigmatism-stricken masses can safely—and comfortably—wear daily, weekly, and monthly soft disposable lenses made from the best materials on the market. Plus, there are more options for toric lenses today than ever before.
There is a whole subtype of contacts dedicated to addressing astigmatism. They are called toric lenses and are only for the most special eyes. Toric contacts are often thicker on the bottom to keep the lens from rotating (rotation causes blurry vision). Other designs rely on thin zones that interact with the eyelids to maintain stability, while some use a combination of both.
No matter the design used, toric contact lenses are much more common today and are all specifically designed to address your astigmatism.
Can you wear regular contacts if you have astigmatism?
Contact lenses come in many shapes and sizes, just like every person’s eyes. Naturally, that means astigmatism prescriptions are going to vary as well. In fact, some astigmatism corrections may not even be required depending on the severity of your astigmatism.
However, most people with astigmatism will likely be prescribed a toric lens since they are able to address multiple corrections at once. Don’t worry though, the switch to toric lenses will be easy if you’ve worn contacts before. Your eyes may need a couple days to adjust, but it will be smooth sailing from there.
What kind of contact lenses are best for astigmatism?
Ultimately, the “best” contacts for you will be determined with your eye doctor. They will assess the severity of your astigmatism, as well as your eye shape and size, to determine which brand of lenses will benefit you the most. Being prepared to discuss your options with an eye doctor will help ensure that you get the perfect lens for your eyes and lifestyle.
They may give you an option of a toric lens or they may recommend going with a normal contact lens. In either case, it’s important to recognize that you have plenty of options in both categories.
Can you wear colored contacts with astigmatism?
This is where the limits of toric technology start to become clear. Up until recently, colored toric lenses were extremely complicated to manufacture and even more difficult to find. Luckily, there have been advances in colored contacts technology that has allowed toric colors to be more widely available.
We currently offer one brand that correct astigmatism and changes your eye color. The astigmatism range they are available in is still limited, but will only get better as technology improves.
Rigid gas permeable contacts for astigmatism
Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) can also correct astigmatism. They’re made from solid material that creates a pool of tears under them to help correct astigmatism. This, by definition, makes them the saddest kind of contact lens. In some cases of severe astigmatism, a toric RGP needs to be prescribed to achieve clear vision.
The big pro is they can last over a year, which can offset the larger expense for this type of lens. It can take a little more time for your eye and eyelid to adjust to their rigid edges, but comfort definitely improves with time.
Fortunately, the likelihood of being prescribed an RGP decreases each year as soft contact technology is always improving. There are many brands offering extended ranges for severe astigmatism these days, you can learn more about those on our website.
Find what lenses are right for you
It’s never been easier for people with astigmatism to get crystal-clear, comfortable vision in contact lenses. There are contacts available for over 90% of people who have some amount of astigmatism.
Original publish date: 1/24/2020
Updated: 8/1/2022