What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism basically means the shape of your eye causes light to focus a little differently than it's supposed to, which can make your vision blurry or slightly distorted. If you have an astigmatism and you're hoping to try contact lenses, don't worry - you totally can! You may just need contacts specifically made for astigmatism, which are called toric contacts.
We'll break it down further in this blog.
What Is Astigmatism?
Ideally, the front of your eye has a pretty even curve. If you have astigmatism, that curve is a little uneven.
You'll sometimes hear people explain this by saying a normal eye is shaped more like a basketball and an eye with astigmatism is shaped more like a football. Because the curve is uneven, light doesn't focus perfectly in one spot when it enters your eye. Instead, it can focus in slightly different places.
The result? Things can look blurry, fuzzy, stretched, or just not quite as sharp as they should.
What Does Astigmatism Feel Like?
It it's mild, your vision might just feel slightly off. You may find yourself squinting to read something far away or notice that your eyes get tired after staring at your computer all day.
Other people have more noticeable symptoms. You might experience blurry vision, headaches, eye strain, trouble seeing at night, or lights that look a little stretched or fuzzy.
Astigmatism can affect both your distance and close-up vision, too. So, it's not quite the same thing as just being nearsighted or farsighted.
What Causes Astigmatism?
Usually, it's just the natural shape of your eye.
A lot of people are born with astigmatism, and you can have it along with nearsightedness or farsightedness.
It's also not something you caused by staring at your phone too much, reading in bad lighting, sitting too close to the TV as a kid, or anything like that.
Your prescription can change over time, though, which is why your eye doctor checks for astigmatism during your regular eye exams.
How Do I Know If I Have Astigmatism?
Your eye doctor can tell you during an eye exam.
But if you already have your contact lens prescription in front of you, there are a couple of numbers that can give it away.
Look for CYL and AXIS.
Those two measurements are used to correct astigmatism.
What Do CYL and AXIS Mean?
CYL stands for cylinder. This tells you how much astigmatism correction you need.
AXIS tells you where that correction needs to sit on your eye. It's a number between 1 and 180.
You may also see SPH, which is the regular vision correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness.
So if your prescription has something like:
SPH: -2.00
CYL: -1.25
AXIS: 180
the -2.00 is your regular vision correction, while the CYL and AXIS are the additional measurements being used to correct your astigmatism.
Can You Wear Contacts If You Have Astigmatism?
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about astigmatism. Having it doesn't mean you can't wear contacts.
You may just need a different type of contact lens called a toric contact.
Toric contacts are specifically designed for people with astigmatism. They correct your regular prescription while also correcting the astigmatism.
There are lots of options available now. You can get daily, bi-weekly, and monthly contacts for astigmatism.
What's Different About Contacts for Astigmatism?
Here's where toric contacts get kind of interesting.
A regular contact lens doesn't really matter if it rotates around on your eye. The prescription is essentially the same all the way around the lens.
A toric contact is different.
Because your astigmatism correction needs to sit at a specific angle, the contact is designed to stay in a certain position on your eye.
That's also why you have an axis number on your prescription.
If you've ever worn toric contacts and noticed your vision suddenly get blurry after blinking and then clear up again, the lens may have rotated slightly before settling back into place.
Do I Have to Wear Toric Contacts?
Not everyone with astigmatism necessarily needs toric contacts.
If your astigmatism is really mild, your eye doctor may decide that you can still get clear enough vision with regular spherical contacts. Your eye doctor will determine which type of contact works best for your prescription and your eyes.
What Are Some Contacts for Astigmatism?
There are actually a lot of them.
Some popular options include PRECISION1 for Astigmatism, DAILIES TOTAL1 for Astigmatism, and Biofinity Toric.
Some are daily disposables, meaning you put in a fresh pair every morning and throw them away at night. Others are designed to be replaced every two weeks or every month.
Which one is best for you really depends on your prescription, your eyes, and what your eye doctor has fitted you for.
Shopping for Contacts With Astigmatism
If your contact lens prescription includes CYL and Axis, you'll usually want to look for the "for astigmatism" or "toric" version of the contact you've been prescribed.
At Blue Planet Optics, we carry contacts for astigmatism from all major brands, fee free.
Astigmatism FAQs
Is astigmatism really common?
Yes. It's very common, and plenty of people who have astigmatism also have nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Does astigmatism mean my eye is shaped like a football?
Kind of, but that's more of an easy visual than a literal description. What matters is that the curvature of the eye isn't completely even, which changes how light focuses.
Can astigmatism cause blurry vision?
Yes. Blurry or distorted vision is one of the main symptoms of astigmatism.
Can astigmatism cause headaches?
It can. If your vision isn't properly corrected, constantly trying to focus can contribute to eye strain and headaches.
What does CYL mean on my contact prescription?
CYL stands for cylinder, and it represents the amount of astigmatism correction you need.
What does AXIS mean?
Axis tells you the orientation of your astigmatism correction. It's measured from 1 to 180.
Can I wear regular contacts if I have astigmatism?
Sometimes. People with very mild astigmatism may be able to wear regular spherical contacts, but your eye doctor will determine whether you need toric lenses.
Can I wear daily contacts with astigmatism?
Yes! There are plenty of daily disposable contacts made specifically for astigmatism.
Where can I buy contacts for astigmatism?
You can shop contacts for astigmatism at Blue Planet Optics. You'll need a valid contact lens prescription for the specific brand and parameters you're ordering.