What are Toric Contact Lenses?
What are Toric Contact Lenses?
You’ve just learned that your eye doctor has suggested a pair of toric contact lenses for your ongoing eye issue. As excited as you are to get your vision back in shape, you wonder what exactly toric contact lenses are and how they’ll help your situation.
Toric Lenses and Astigmatism
The most common reason that toric contact lenses are prescribed to people is due to the visual impairment issue called astigmatism. This common eye condition tends to cause blurry or distorted vision at both long and short distances, making it hard for individuals to see as clearly as they’d like. This makes driving especially dangerous at night, as bright lights can look streaky or smeary. Besides the sensitivity to light, astigmatism can also lead to a burning sensation, commonly known as eye strain. Luckily, toric contact lenses can help with these issues in a way that will offer you relief from the visual impairments you may be experiencing daily.
So, What Are Toric Lenses? How Do They Help Me?
Toric contact lenses were first introduced to the market in 1978 and have become popular for people suffering from astigmatism. This makes them trustworthy for those who may be skeptical or doubtful about their effectiveness.
Some individuals' cornea may be irregularly oval, which causes light to bend and pass through unevenly. Instead of converging at a single focal point, light rays diverge and land on different points within the retina, resulting in blurry and distorted vision. This is where toric contact lenses come into play, as they are uniquely shaped to manipulate the way light enters the eye.
Toric lenses help correct the refraction caused by astigmatism, as their distinctive shape allows for different focusing powers to occur in both vertical and horizontal directions. The strength of the refraction gradually increases or decreases with movement around the lens, helping to mitigate the effects that astigmatism may have on vision.
Getting Fitted for your Toric Contact Lenses
Getting a prescription for toric contact lenses is the first step in determining which ones are best for you, as there are many different options available on the market.
To give you the best results, it’s important to make sure toric lenses are fitted correctly. They must sit at a particular orientation to ensure they stay on the eye, guaranteeing clear vision that will remain consistent throughout wear. If they are fitted incorrectly toric lenses may slip, affecting visual clarity. These particular lenses have a middle axis similar to that of the earth’s equator which helps retain clear vision.
There are many features that can help maintain the position of toric contact lenses, such as:
- Thin-thick zones
- Lens truncation, where the lens is cut off slightly at the bottom
- Ballasting, where the lens may be thicker or heavier in some areas
Choosing the Right Toric Contact Lenses
As mentioned before, there are various options regarding toric contact lenses, which can make it confusing for some. However, there are only two main types, which can make your decision-making process less intimidating: soft toric contact lenses and rigid gas permeable toric contact lenses (RGP). So, what’s the difference between the two?
Soft Toric Contact Lenses
Soft toric lenses are easy to use and adapt to the eye quicker than RGP lenses. They provide a comfortable fit, as their soft flexibility helps the lens conform to the shape of the eye.
One downside to soft toric lenses is that they are prone to rotation on the eye, which impacts their effectiveness for astigmatism. Advancements in lens design have addressed this issue to stabilize soft toric lenses, including stabilizing technologies to ensure favorable vision correction.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Toric Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable (RGP) toric contact lenses are firmer, as they are made from an oxygen-permeable material. Due to their rigidity and stability, this offers more precise visual clarity and correction.
One reason RGP lenses may be for you is that they are durable and have more longevity, making them a cost-effective option. They also accumulate fewer protein deposits, helping to maintain clear vision over time.
Another option is hybrid lenses, which combine both RGP and soft lens components for individuals who want the benefits of both materials.
Being informed about the different options available to you can make the decision process easier. It helps to consult with your eye doctor to figure out what would be best for you so that you have a great experience with your toric contact lenses.
Related Products
Here at Blue Planet Optics, we offer a variety of toric contact lenses in both soft and RGP categories. We carry daily, biweekly, and monthly toric lenses, personalizing your experience to make it easier for you. Browse below to find your next pair of contact lenses.
