Astigmatism contact lenses are called toric contact lenses. They corrrect astigmatism and either hyperopia( far 

sightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness). 

Toric contactlenses are a combination of a spherical lens with a cylindrical lens to correct astigmatism. 

Astigmatism is when the cornea has an irregular curvature.

In the past it was always difficult to find contact lenses for people with astigmatism. Nowadays nearly all 

companies sell contact lenses for astigmatism. People who were sent away in the past are now enjoying the comfort 

of toric contact lenses.

In cases where Astigmatism is found in only one eye, the eye doctor may prescribe a toric lens for that eye and a 

regular spherical lens for the other eye.

Toric lenses come as soft or rigid gas permeable contact lenses. They are slightly weighted so that they do not 

rotate so much on the eye. This helps keep the contact lenses in the same oriention of the astigmatism and also 

avoids blurriness. 

Some lenses are constructed with a ballast at both top and bottom allowing the lens to always rotate into its 

correct position.

Because fitting astigmatism contact lenses takes more expertise and time than normal contact lenses, they are 

usually more expensive. 

In the past only hard lenses (rigid gas permeable) lenses could correct astigmatism.

Nowadays, most people go for soft toric contact lenses that do the job pretty well. Although there are cases where 

only rigid gas permeable lenses help.

Even for people who normally wear bifocals and multifocals. There are multifocal toric lenses available to 

accomodate astigmatism, seeing well in the distance and reading at near.

Bi-toric lenses are also available for extremely high astigmatic prescriptions. Theses are lenses that have 

corrections on the front and back of the lens enabling the correction of much higher prescription powers. The 

disposable types are available for low to moderate astigmatism. For high astigmatism custom made toric lenses are 

the option to go for.

Technorati Tags: By Dr. Ken Onu

In the past dry eyes prevented many people from wearing contact lenses. People with dry eyes who live in windy areas or those who spend a lot of time outdoors have always had problems with normal contact lenses. 

Heres the good news. This is now a thing of the past. The best contact lenses for dry eyes are here. As a matter of fact they have been around for quite some time now.. Here are 5 tips to get the best contact lenses for dry eyes.

1. Look for contact lenses with high water content. 

Contact lenses with high water content are suited for people with dry eyes. The higher the water content the better for the eyes

2. Look for contact lenses that have the right fit. 

Contact lenses that are fit properly help to avoid excessive drying of the eyes

3. Use the right care solutions. 

Using the right solutions to moisturize and condition your contact lenses help those who suffer from dry eyes

4. Use daily disposable lenses. 

Using disposable daily lenses also help people with dry eyes

5. Use rewetting drops and drink plenty water.

Using rewetting drops more frequently also help to lubricate the contact lenses and the eyes keeping them moist longer. Research has shown that drinking lots of water rehydrates the skin and also the eyes.

Dry eyes are no longer a hindrance to wearing the best contact lenses. At one time that may have been true, but not any more.

For the best contact lenses dry eyes, consider the Acuvue Oasys lenses . It is a popular choice that is a very high moisture lens.

If you have any problems check your eye care professional

   1. You should take good care of your contact lenses. If you skip the proper steps in your contact lens care routine, you could develop problems. Never clean your lenses with your saliva or keep them in your mouth!

   2. Ask your eye doctor before you switch your care system brand because not all systems are compatible with other lenses.

   3. Never stretch your doctor specified replacement interval for your contacts.

   4.  Focus on value, not only on price, when shopping for contact lenses. Convenience, availability and great customer service are just as important.

   5. Allow your teenager to wear contact lenses. Nearly 50% of new lens wearers are teens and most of them started wearing their contactlenses before the age of 15.

   6. Never try to change your eye colour by using food coloring to tint your contact lenses. This is dangerous as food coloring is not sterile.

   7. Even if you wear eye glasses most of the time, disposable contact lenses (daily disposables) are perfect for occassions when even your glasses are a bother. Like playing sports.

   8. If you are not completely satisfied with your contact lenses, you should see your eye doctor. Nowadays contact lens technology has advanced. Bifocal contact lenses and monovision contact lenses are examples of such. 

   9. Never share your contact lenses with others! Sharing contact lenses spread bacteria and fungi and can cause severe eye infections.

  10. Contact lenses are a medical device. Never take them for granted! If you experience eye pain, redness or develop other  unusual symptoms, see your eye doctor immediately.

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   1. You should take good care of your contact lenses. If you skip the proper steps in your contact lens care routine, you could develop problems. Never clean your lenses with your saliva or keep them in your mouth!

   2. Ask your eye doctor before you switch your care system brand because not all systems are compatible with other lenses.

   3. Never stretch your doctor specified replacement interval for your contacts.

   4.  Focus on value, not only on price, when shopping for contact lenses. Convenience, availability and great customer service are just as important.

   5. Allow your teenager to wear contact lenses. Nearly 50% of new lens wearers are teens and most of them started wearing their contactlenses before the age of 15.

   6. Never try to change your eye colour by using food coloring to tint your contact lenses. This is dangerous as food coloring is not sterile.

   7. Even if you wear eye glasses most of the time, disposable contact lenses (daily disposables) are perfect for occassions when even your glasses are a bother. Like playing sports.

   8. If you are not completely satisfied with your contact lenses, you should see your eye doctor. Nowadays contact lens technology has advanced. Bifocal contact lenses and monovision contact lenses are examples of such. 

   9. Never share your contact lenses with others! Sharing contact lenses spread bacteria and fungi and can cause severe eye infections.

  10. Contact lenses are a medical device. Never take them for granted! If you experience eye pain, redness or develop other  unusual symptoms, see your eye doctor immediately.

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 Coloured contact lenses can enhance the natural color of one’s eyes.  They can change your eye’s appearance for example from brown to hazel or from brown to green.  They come in three different types of tints.1) opaque colors 2) enhancements 3) visibility tints

Opaque colors can change your eye colour completely, because they are made of solid color patterns.  In countries where most people have dark eyes this is the lens color of choice.  The popular lens colors are usually brown, hazel, green, violet, gray, amethyst and blue.  Most colored contact lenses mimic the natural look of the iris of the eye, leaving the center (where the pupil is) clear.

On occasion the contact lens may slide off the center of the eye causing a blur.  This is rare however.  Also it must be noted that the pupil changes in size according to the amount of light that enters it.  This means that usually at night the pupil is larger and this can affect vision in some patients because they then see the coloured portion of the contact lens.  If this is a persistent problem is recommended that you see your eye doctor.

Enhancement tints are solid tints aalthough one can still see through them.  They are meant to enhance the existing color of one’s eyes and I usually best for people who have liked Coloured eyes and are looking to make them more intense.

Visibility parents are usually just mild tints to the added to the lens to help people especially those with high prescriptions see better during the removal of insertion of the lens.  This allows people to find their lenses more easily.  They have no effect on the eye color.

Nearly all of these lenses described are available in nonprescription form as well as for people who need prescriptions.

Dr Onu

10 questions about contact lenses

1.      Question:  I have astigmatism. Can I wear contact lenses?

Answer:  Of course you can!  Over the last two years, improvements have been made on most contact lenses.  Nearly everyone can now wear contact lenses.  Soft toric lenses can correct astigmatism, a bifocal contact lens can correct presbyopia and more and more lenses are available for dry eye sufferers. 

2.      Question:  Are contact lenses uncomfortable?

     Answer:  Not really!  Initially there might be some slight   discomfort, but after a short adaptation time, most people hardly notice that they have contact lenses on their eyes..

3.    Question:  Can contact lenses get stuck to my eye?

 Answer:  Again not really!  Contact lenses are made to float on the surface of the eye.  They  do  not stick to the eye.  There is a story that about a welder who accidentally fused contact lenses to his eyes.  This is an unlikely story.  Of course without proper care accidents can happen.

4.      Question:  How difficult is it to take care of contact lenses?

        Answer:  Contact lenses are very easy to take care of.  You can use the one step system to clean and disinfect your lenses or you can eliminate cleaning altogether, by using daily disposables or 30 day extended wear contact lenses.

5.      Question:  Are contact lenses difficult to insert?

Answer:  Just like riding a bike, initially it might appear difficult, but your eye care practitioner and staff will teach you very simple ways to insert and remove your contact lenses.  Over 80 million people wear contact lenses.

6.       Question: Can contact lenses pop out of my eye?

Answer: Again not really!  In the olden days hard contact lenses used to do this, but today this is a rare occurrence.

7.       Question: Am I too old for contact lenses?

Answer: Never!  With the advent of bifocal contact lenses, toric contact lenses  and contact lenses for dry eye sufferers this is a thing of the past.  There is practically a contact lens for nearly every situation.

8.       Question: I’ve heard that contact lenses can be very expensive?

Answer: That’s not true!  Contact lenses can be even cheaper than a good pair of eyeglasses.  Even disposable contact lenses do not cost much.

9.      Question: I have nonprescription coloured contact lenses.  Can I share them with others?

Answer: Never!  Sharing contact lenses is an absolute no-no!  This can lead to serious eye

infections .  Remember !  Contact lenses are medical devices.  They are fitted by your eye care practitioner and are to be cleaned regularly with the appropriate solutions.

10.  Question:  Can I stretch the replacement interval of my disposable contact lenses?

Answer:  It is very important to adhere to the directions of your eye care practitioner.  Stretching the replacement interval of your disposable contact lenses can lead to problems.  If you have any questions, contact your eye care practitioner.

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Depending on how frequently they should be discarded, soft contact lenses are classified as follows:

A)           Daily disposables (to be discarded every single day)

B)            Bi-weekly disposables (to be discarded after two weeks –usually used for daytime wear)

C)            Weekly disposables (to be discarded after one week –usually used for overnight wear)

D)           Continuous wear (to be discarded every four weeks –usually used for 30 day wear)

E)            Planned replacement lenses (to be discarded every few months decided by the eye doctor)

Gas permeable contact lenses do not need to be discarded as frequently as soft contact lenses.  This is because they are more resistant to protein buildup and other lens deposits.  They can be used for a year or longer before they need replacement.

Now let’s talk about contact lens designs.  There are many designs available for the correction of various types of vision challenges.

Spherical contact lenses are typically the rounded designs that correct nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).

Toric contact lenses correct astigmatism as well as myopia or hyperopia.  They are created at different angles.  One for myopia or hyperopia and the other for astigmatism 

Bifocal or Progressive contact lenses are lenses that have different zones for distance and near.  These are used for most people over the age of 40 who are also in need of reading glasses.

There are also custom lenses that are made for hard to fit eyes.  They are less common and are only used for special situations such as correcting irregular shaped corneas.  A condition known as keratoconus.  

written by Dr. K.Onu

Technorati Tags: astigmatism, best contact lenses, custom lenses, daily wear, toric

About 30% of the world’s lens users wear contact lenses.  The estimated figure is about 80 million contact lens wearers worldwide. Over 74% of these contact lens wearers are between the ages of 18 and 48.

Just like spectacles, contact lenses can correct farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism.  One advantage of contact lenses ist that there is no need for irreversible eye surgery.  They also provide a totally unobstructed field of view which is fantastic for sports.

They have been around for over 100 years.  So many technological advancements have taken place since then.  So, if you were told that contact lenses were not right for you in the past, it is quite possible that with the latest type of lenses there may be a new option for you.

If contact lenses are new for you, the first thing to do is to see your eye doctor.  Just like pharmaceuticals, contact lenses are a prescription item and they must be prescribed and properly fitted by eye care professionals.  Your eye care professional evaluates your eye and tear structure and your visual needs in order to determine which lens is best for you.

Contact lenses can be grouped according to the following.  Their design, what they’re made of, how long they can be worn without removal and how often they should be disposed of.

The best contact lenses, are made from silicone hydrogel.  These are soft lenses and are the lenses of choice for most eye care practitioners.  This is because they do not dry so easily on the eye and they allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye.

Daily wear contact lenses are lenses that have to be removed and cleaned every night.  In 1979 extended wear contact lenses were introduced.  These are lenses that can be worn overnight.  Some of them can be worn for seven consecutive days without removal.  There is one special type of contact lens that can be worn for 30 consecutive days without removal.  This type of contact lens is called “continuous wear”.

Even with the best care, contact lenses should be disposed of at frequent intervals in order to prevent the buildup of lens deposits and also contamination that can lead to an increased risk of infection.

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