Updated on
Vision Center is funded by our readers. We may earn commissions if you purchase something via one of our links.
In this article
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error. (Refractive errors are eye problems that affect your vision). If you have astigmatism it means your cornea is misshapen.
The cornea is your eye’s outermost lens. It focuses the light that enters your eye.
A normal cornea is spherical. With astigmatism, the cornea has an irregular curve.
A misshapen cornea changes how light passes through to your retina.
Astigmatism can cause:
"Astigmatism, if untreated can give an appearance of images being 'stretched out,'" says Dr. Yuna Rapoport.
Dr. Rapoport is a cataract and refractive surgery board-certified and fellowship-trained ophthalmologist.
She specializes in laser corrective and cataract surgery, keratoconus, dry eye, comprehensive exams, contacts, and glasses.
She and her team at Manhattan Eye provide a customized approach and plan to each patient’s visual needs.
The causes of astigmatism are unknown. Many believe that genetics play a large role.
It is common for astigmatism to occur with nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia).
Astigmatism is often present at birth, however, it can develop at any age.
Mild astigmatism may not need to be corrected. Moderate or severe cases need treatment for sharper vision.
Dr. Rapoport points out that if you are tired of contacts or glasses, there are numerous laser refractive procedures that can fix astigmatism. These include LASIK, PRK, ICL (implantable collamer lens), and RLE (refractive lens exchange).
Many people prefer wearing contacts to correct their astigmatism. They are affordable, convenient, and provide excellent visual acuity.
You can use soft or hard (rigid gas permeable, or RGP) contacts to correct astigmatism. Most people opt for soft contacts since they are comfortable and easy to use.
Soft lenses are made from a silicone hydrogel material, which creates a soft, breathable lens that still provides sharp vision.
You’ll need special lenses, called “toric” lenses if you have astigmatism.
Toric contacts are specifically designed to have two “powers.” One corrects your astigmatism and the other corrects your near or farsightedness.
They also have a weight on the bottom to make sure they stay in place and don’t rotate. (Normal lenses have one power and your vision is not affected if they rotate).
*NOTE: It's important to know that contact prescriptions and glasses prescriptions are different. If you only have glasses, your current prescription won't work for contact lenses. Make sure you have a professional contact lens fitting exam from an eye doctor before purchasing lenses from online retailers.
We asked the expert, Dr. Rapoport, her opinion on the 7 best contacts for astigmatism.
Top Recommendations from an Opthalmologist | |
---|---|
Best Contacts For Dry Eyes - | Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe for Astigmatism |
Best Daily Contacts - | Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe for Astigmatism |
Best Weekly or Bi-Weekly Contacts - | Acuvue Oasys with HYDRACLEAR PLUS for Astigmatism |
Best Monthly Contacts - | Bausch & Lomb ULTRA for Astigmatism |
Best for Sensitive Eyes - | Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen |
Best Multifocal Contacts - | Bausch + Lomb Ultra Multifocal for Astigmatism |
Best Extended Wear Contacts - | None! |
Here's what she said:
Dry eyes are a common problem for people with astigmatism. That’s why Acuvue Oasys with HydraLuxe for astigmatism are one of the most popular contact lenses on the market.
They feature HydraLuxe® technology with an embedded wetting agent. This allows tears to wet the lens like they would your eye. Plus the added convenience of never needing solution or contact cases.
Many contact wearers prefer daily disposable lenses for their convenience. You don’t need a contact case or solution. Instead you throw each pair out at the end of the day.
They also are better for your eye health. Your eyes contain calcium, proteins, and lipids. These build up on reusable lenses and increase your chance of infection. Disposable contacts are always sterile, greatly reducing your chances of infection.
Again, Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe for Astigmatism lenses top the list of this category.
Weekly contact lenses can be worn for one to two weeks. Once again, Acuvue tops the list in this category. Acuvue Oasys lenses come with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS technology. This helps to stabilize tear film, resulting in less dryness.
Monthly contacts only need to be replaced every 30 days. Bausch & Lomb ULTRA have MoistureSeal technology and OpticAlign Design which provides clear vision, stability, and all-day comfort.
Bonus: Some patients can use Biofinity Toric Monthly lenses for up to 7 days/6 nights of continuous wear. Not all patients can achieve the maximum wear time. Speak with your eye care practitioner for more information.
The FDA recently approvevd Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen contact lenses. These contact lenses help people with allergic eye itch. Ketotifen is an established antihistamine.
If you have presbyopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism you’ll need multifocal lenses. Bausch + Lomb Ultra Multifocal lenses are the top choice for this category. They are a monthly lens. They use a 3-Zone Progressive design. This provides vision correction up close, far away, and in between.
"I don't ever recommend extended wear contacts because of increase in neovascularization (new blood vessel growth around the outside)," says Dr. Rapoport
The Vision Center team spends several hours researching and writing every review page. We scour the internet and base all of our recommendations on:
Every review is then edited for medical accuracy by our medical reviewer, Dr. Melody Huang, O.D..
If soft toric contact lenses are uncomfortable, or unable to correct your astigmatism, there are a couple of other options for toric contact lenses:
Rigid gas permeable, or RGP lenses, are hard contact lenses. Soft contact lenses correct mild to moderate astigmatism. RGP lenses may be beneficial for people with severe astigmatism. They provider sharper vision for high prescriptions.
RGP lenses are custom-made for every patient. They typically have a higher price tag up front but are more durable than soft contact lenses. They will last over a year with proper maintenance. This makes their cost comparable to soft lenses over time.
Many people experience discomfort when first wearing RGP lenses. They often take a few weeks or more to adapt to. They are also smaller in size than soft lenses, which makes them more likely to fall out. They may not be a good choice for people who play sports or do other physical activities.
Hybrid contacts have a rigid gas permeable center surrounded by soft edges made of a soft hydrogel material. They provide the sharper vision of RGP lenses along with the comfort of soft contact lenses.
Like RGP lenses, hybrid contact lenses are custom made for each patient. They are similarly priced to RGP contacts, meaning they are more expensive up front, but wind up costing about the same as soft lenses over time.
In this article
1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.
GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.
Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices.
Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online.
EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6.
All Vision Center content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed optometrist to ensure the information is factual and meets industry standards.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from recent scientific research, scholarly articles, textbooks, government agencies, optometry websites, and medical journals.