Not everyone wears the same type of contact lenses. And it's not just about color or one-day. So, for example, sometimes you need special contact lenses - toric. This is due to a disease such as astigmatism. We invite you to understand what toric contact lenses mean, their selection and wearing features.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea or lens has an irregular shape, causing light to refract differently and blurry images.
To determine the degree of the disease, it is necessary to identify the degree of the meridian through which the light rays pass. The scale ranges from zero to one hundred and eighty degrees.
The causes of astigmatism cannot be determined with certainty. It can be congenital or develop over time.
If no action is taken, then astigmatism will develop and may be accompanied by such unpleasant things as:
- strabismus;
- frequentheadaches;
- itching and cutting sensation in the eyes.
The disease is treated in the following way:
- wearing special glasses;
- orthokeratology;
- laser surgery;
- wearing toric lenses.
Toric lenses
These special lenses are all made from the same material as regular lenses, called spherical lenses. So what does toric contact lenses mean then? The thing is that they consist of two optical forces, the curvature of which is at different angles. One is needed to correct astigmatism, the other - myopia or hyperopia. They are designed in such a way that the lens does not move from the cornea during blinking or eye movement. That is, if a spherical lens can move freely along the cornea, then this is unacceptable for toric ones. They must be fixed on the eye.
Toric contact lenses are of the following types:
- soft or hard;
- one-day or long-term wear;
- colored.
Doctors recommend wearing toric lenses only for patients with astigmatism, but also with diseases such as:
- cataract;
- diseases and injuries of the cornea.
The appearance of toric lenses is a combined spherical and cylindrical shape.
According to the composition of the lenses are divided into hydrogel and silicone hydrogel. The main difference is the way air is passed: through water or silicone.
Types of contact lenses
Today's market for toric contact lenses is as follows:
1. "Johnson &Johnson" (Johnson & Johnson):
- "Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism" (Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism);
- "1 Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism";
- "Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism".
2. "Cooper Vision" (CooperVision):
- "Biofinity Toric" (Biofinity Toric);
- "Biomedics Toric" (Biomedics Toric);
- "Proclear Toric" (Proclear Toric);
- "Avaira Toric" (Avaira Toric);
- "Frequency 55 Toric XR" (Frequency 55 Toric XR);
- "Proclear Toric XR" (Proclear Toric XR);
- "Vertex Toric" (Vertex Toric);
- "UltraFlex Toric" (UltraFlex Toric);
- "Preference Toric" (Preference Toric);
- "Vertex Toric XR" (Vertex Toric XR);
- "Clarity 1day toric" (Clariti 1day toric);
- "Clea Site One Day Toric" (ClearSight 1 Day Toric).
3. "Alcon" (Alcon):
- "Air Optix for Astigmatism" (Air Optix for Astigmatism);
- "Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus Toric" (Dailies AquaComfort Plus Toric);
- "Focus Dailies toric"(Focus Dailies Toric).
4. "Bausch and Lomb" (Bausch & Lomb):
- "Soft lenses for astigmatism" (SofLens For Astigmatism);
- "Pure Vision Toric" (PureVision Toric);
- "Pure Vision 2 for Astigmatism" (PureVision 2 for Astigmatism);
- "Soft Lens Daily Disposable for Astigmatism" (SofLens Daily Disposable for Astigmatism);
- "Optima Toric" (Optima Toric).
5. "X-Cel" (X-Cel):
- "Extreme Ashdvao 54%" (Extreme H2O 54%);
- "Extreme Ashdvao 54% Toric MC" (Extreme H2O 54%Toric MC).
Daily and daily lenses
Daily toric contact lenses are the cheapest option. They must be removed every day at night and lowered into a container with a special solution in which they will be disinfected. You also need to adhere to the scheduled replacement schedule. Wear time varies by type and brand, ranging from two weeks to three months.
Disposable toric contact lenses are changed every day. They cost more, because you constantly need a new pair. But these lenses are good because they do not accumulate biological deposits and there is no constant need for their disinfection.
Soft and hard lenses
Rigid toric contact lenses are also called gas permeable. This is due to the fact that they are made from special polymers that have high oxygen conductivity.
Their advantageis that they hold their shape very well on the eye. Sometimes doctors advise wearing such lenses at night and removing them in the morning. During this time, they act on the cornea so that it becomes a little flat. As a result, the curvature around increases and vision becomes clearer. This effect lasts throughout the day.
Soft toric contact lenses are relatively new on the market. They are also gas-permeable, as well as rigid, but differ in their structure. Soft lenses are a thin film with one wall exactly following the shape of the cornea.
They are suitable for daily wear, but need constant cleaning and moisturizing. The main advantage of soft lenses over hard lenses is the absence of a period of addiction and adaptation.
Colored lenses
Are there toric colored contact lenses? The answer is yes, there are. Only not all types have a wide color palette. So, for example, some daily toric colored contact lenses are available in only one shade, and long-wear in others.
Now there are new colored lenses of Korean and Chinese production on the market. They are much inferior in quality to special toric ones, but they have a wide palette. These lenses are only suitable for short-term wear (no more than six to eight hours).
Toric contact lenses selection
The choice of any lens is based on individual needs and vision. It's the same rulealso applies to toric lenses.
Main selection criteria:
- Will you sleep in lenses?
- Do you need lenses for all-day or occasional wear?
- What is your lifestyle?
- Your age.
If you can answer these questions yourself, then in order for the lens not to bring discomfort and increase the level of vision, it is necessary to conduct a series of tests with an optometrist. This is the main difficulty in wearing toric lenses. As a rule, ophthalmologists measure all data using modern computer equipment:
- refractions (visual acuity);
- cornea conditions;
- degrees of deviation of the meridian.
In some cases, doctors give patients trial sets of toric lenses.
After your ophthalmologist has written a prescription for you, you can buy contact lenses yourself from time to time (in opticians or online stores). But after some time, you will need to contact the doctor again. You may need to correct the data.
Cost of lenses
Prices for a line of toric contact lenses are higher than for simple spherical ones. This is due to their specificity.
Also, these lenses are more expensive than special glasses. But the high cost is justified by such advantages as high visual acuity and convenience.
As for the price inside the line, the cost of silicone-hydrogel will be slightly higher than hydrogel.
Toric contact lenses reviews
Highlights that people who wear toric lenses notice:
- For allergy sufferers and people with sensitive eyes, disposable contact lenses are the best option.
- Toric lenses have a big advantage over glasses. The picture is clearer and there are no field of view restrictions.
- Hard lenses are better fixed and retain their shape, but when a speck of dust or mote gets into the eye, very strong discomfort is felt.
- Soft toric lenses are better and more comfortable, but they don't provide clear vision.
- You must always have moisturizing drops with you. When the lens dries out, discomfort occurs in the eye and visual acuity decreases.
- Lenses are much more comfortable to wear than glasses.
- For convenience, it is better to have several types of lenses. For example, one-day and long-term wear.
- The worse the vision, the thicker the lens. In this regard, there is often discomfort.
- After prolonged wearing of toric lenses, corneal astigmatism is slightly corrected.
- Toric lenses are suitable even for children who often do not like to wear glasses.
- There is no lifestyle change with toric lenses. For example, everyone can also actively play sports.
It is worth remembering that all reviews are based only on the personal feelings of patients. Therefore, it is impossible to critically tune in to any particular typetoric lenses. You may like the look that makes others irritated and uncomfortable.
