Contact Lenses
It was once the case that contact lenses were unavailable to those with astigmatism. Advances in contact lenses have made them widely available to most people needing vision correction regardless of natural eye color, size or shape.
Contact lenses for astigmatism, called "toric" lenses, are made from the same materials as regular lenses but with a slightly different design. These lenses have two powers in them, one for the astigmatism and the other for myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), whichever your prescription requires.
If you have astigmatism, you can even wear specialty contact lenses like theatrical contact lenses and colored contacts. These lenses are popular for a variety of reasons, like for a costume, creating a customized look or simply just to change the natural color of your eye.
If your astigmatism is severe and you are unable to wear regular contact lenses you might be eligible for custom contact lenses. Custom lenses are made in both soft lens and rigid gas permeable (RGP or GP) materials, but cost more than regular contact lenses.
Contact Lens Care
Caring for your contact lenses is extremely important. Mishandling or failing to follow the proper instructions for your lenses can result in serious conditions such as a corneal ulcer or develop an eye infection. If you start exhibiting pink eye symptoms you should visit your eye doctor. You can develop giant papillary conjunctivitis from unhygienic lenses, lens cases or lens handling practices.
Be sure to clean your contact lenses after each wearing period. The process for cleaning your lenses is similar regardless of whether they are soft or GP lenses. Using the proper lens solution is important when cleaning your lenses so be sure to read your product information carefully.
Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to handling your contacts. Place the first lens in the palm of your hand, then rinse the lens with a few drops of your solution. Make sure you have removed all the debris from the lens.
At this point, your lens is ready to be placed in your lens case, which should be filled with fresh solution each time. Reusing solution can lead to infection and further complications. Now you are ready to repeat the process for the second lens.
Contact Lens Discomfort
If you experience any discomfort with your contact lenses you should see your optometrist immediately. Symptoms such as eye pain, blurred vision or eye twitching can indicate a more serious condition and should be looked at by an eye doctor.
A common complaint of discomfort for contact lens wearers is the feeling of dry eyes. If you find that your contacts make your eyes feel dry there are some ways to address the issue. While there aren't specific contact lenses for dry eyes, sometimes the answer is as easy as using prescribed eye drops or changing your cleaning solution.
You may be eligible for free contact lenses, for more information or to learn more about contacts visit AllAboutVision.com.
Need more information on contact lenses, or feel like you still have questions? More than 25 pages with answers to specific contact lens related questions are available at AllAboutVision.com. Some sample questions include: