Types of Contacts for Astigmatism
If you have astigmatism in one or both of your eyes, you might have thought that eyeglasses were your only option for correction. Fortunately, this is not the case. There are several types of contact lenses available from your eye specialist. Or Los Angeles, CA optometrist from Los Angeles Vision Center explains some of these options below.
Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
Rigid gas permeable or RGP lenses have been around for several decades. They are thicker and more rigid than other options, but they also tend to provide the clearest vision. And they are more durable and typically stay in place well.
Toric Contact Lenses
You might have heard of these from your eye doctor, as they are some of the most commonly recommended options. Toric lenses were developed specifically with astigmatism in mind. They are softer than RGP lenses.
However, they typically take longer to find the perfect fit. It might take a few visits to your eye doctor to find the right pair. Additionally, though they have properties to help them rotate back into place, they do tend to move more often than RGP.
Hybrid Contacts
If you have cornea astigmatism, hybrid contacts might be the best vision and eye care option. These are made to give you the sharp vision of RGP lenses but are soft like toric lenses for comfort. They also tend to be more stable in your eye than toric lenses.
Ortho-K
For those who don’t want to wear contacts all day, Ortho-K is a good option. Ortho-K or Orthokeratology contacts are RGP contacts. However, you don’t have to wear them during the day. Instead, you wear them while you sleep. During that time, they reshape your cornea, providing you with improved vision without eyewear during your waking hours.
These are a great option for astigmatism eye care, but it’s important to understand that they don’t provide actual corrective measures. You can enjoy improved vision as long as you wear the lenses while sleeping. However, if you stop, you can expect your vision to return to how it was before.
Still, they are a great choice to prevent putting contacts in when you need to run out the door for work the next day. They’re also great for an active lifestyle, as you don’t need to worry about losing your contacts while running or playing sports.
Find the Best Contact Lenses with Our Optometrist
Still uncertain which contact lenses you should choose? Let our team at Los Angeles Vision Center in Los Angeles, CA help. Call to schedule an eye specialist appointment today at (323) 934-2020.