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:
Blurry vision
Poor night vision
Squinting and eye strain
Eye irritation
Headaches
"Astigmatism, if untreated can give an appearance of images being 'stretched out,'" says Dr. Yuna Rapoport.
Meet the Expert
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.
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.
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.
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.
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen
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.
OpticAlign design for stable, consistently clear vision
MoistureSeal technology maintains 95% of lens moisture for 16 hours
Material: 54% samfilcon A; 46% water
Manufacturer: Bausch + Lomb
Best Extended Wear Contacts: None!
"I don't ever recommend extended wear contacts because of increase in neovascularization (new blood vessel growth around the outside)," says Dr. Rapoport
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Other Types of Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
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 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 Contact Lenses
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
Best Places to Buy Contacts
Best Overall
1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.
Holladay, Jack T, et al. “Analysis of Aggregate Surgically Induced Refractive Change, Prediction Error, and Intraocular Astigmatism.” Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Elsevier, 1 Feb. 2001, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0886335000007963.
Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. Through her writing, Dr. Huang enjoys educating patients on how to lead healthier and happier lives. She also has an interest in Eastern medicine practices and learning about integrative medicine. When she’s not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats.
Michael is the content strategist and a lead content writer for Vision Center. With eight years of experience in the world of content strategy and creation, Michael specializes in medical copywriting and advanced research methodologies.
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