Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

You may have noticed if you have astigmatism, your eye doctor informs you of the percentage of astigmatism you have. This figure determines the severity of your condition and may indicate whether you require specialized contacts for astigmatism. Before you get these contacts from Vision Professionals of Leawood in Leawood, KS, you may wonder how they compare with standard lenses. 

About Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

Contact lenses for astigmatism provided by one of our optometrists are either toric lenses or ones specifically for astigmatism. These lenses have different powers in different regions of contact. Specialized contacts for astigmatism have a shape that accommodates the nonstandard contours of your eyes. Some are weighted, so they remain in place.

For people who have a normal-shaped eyes, traditional contacts work well. However, for people with astigmatism, standard contacts can't correct their vision as much as possible. Therefore, someone with moderate to severe astigmatism may still have blurry vision at certain distances or may not be able to see as well as they could with traditional soft contact lenses. 

On the other hand, you may receive gas-permeable and harder lenses. You may opt for the ones you sleep in and take out in the morning. They alter the shape of your eyes, so light reflects on your retina properly all day. Another option is scleral lenses, which can be more comfortable and remain in place better than a standard pair of contacts. They cover your cornea and sclera. 

How We Determine Your Need for Contacts for Astigmatism

To diagnose astigmatism, our eye doctors perform a comprehensive eye exam. The first portion consists of our eye doctor asking you to look into lenses. As the lenses switch powers, you identify which one you can see clearly. This determines the strength of the prescription you require. The astigmatism test is comprised of one of our eye doctors asking you to compare different images. You must identify which one of the two is clearer than the other. This tells our optometrist the degree of your astigmatism and provides information regarding the meridians affected.

In milder cases, you may not require specialized lenses. However, those with higher levels of astigmatism may find standard lenses don't work well enough. Your optometrist will decide if contacts for astigmatism are best for you. 

Schedule an Appointment with Our Optometry Professionals in Leawood, KS

Call Vision Professionals of Leawood today at (913) 239-9446 for more information on astigmatism or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.