Toric Contact Lenses

Lenses for Astigmatism

If you've ever considered purchasing contacts lenses, chances are you've heard of toric contact lenses, but what does the term "toric" mean? Simply put, the word "toric" refers to a special type of contact lens which is needed when correcting for astigmatism.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when soft contact lenses were not an option for individuals with astigmatism. However, with improvements in eye-care technology the options are almost as wide for astigmatic eyes as for those with simple nearsightedness or farsightedness. In fact toric contact lenses are now available in disposable (including daily disposable contacts, frequent replacement contacts, or extended wear contact lenses), multi-focal, and colored varieties - color toric lenses.

Toric lenses, unlike their counterparts - spherical contact lenses, have two different prescriptions contained within the lens. It's for this reason that toric contact lenses must be worn on the eye in a specific orientation. Any rotation of toric lenses may result in blurred vision. Manufacturers have a few different ways of ensuring the correct orientation is maintained, with the basic concept being the lens becomes thicker towards the base.

Not all individuals with astigmatism are candidates for toric lenses, two common exceptions include:

1. Individuals with small amounts of astigmatism may be able to get away with wearing spherical contact lenses, such as vial contact lenses or disposable contact lenses. There is little to no compromise in crispness of vision and it can also be a financial benefit, as toric contact lenses are more costly.
   
   
2. Individuals with high amounts of astigmatism may find that toric lenses (which are soft) simply cannot correct sufficiently for their astigmatism. In this situation, they may opt for rigid gas permeable contacts, which essentially 'mask' the astigmatic portion of the individual's prescription.

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