Can You Wear Contact Lenses if You Have Astigmatism?

It is possible to wear contacts if you have astigmatism. The key is how severe your astigmatism is and if there are contacts that will fit properly. You can get contact lenses in Tampa that work with your astigmatism, but it requires visiting an optical center in Tampa. Here is what you need to know about wearing contacts with astigmatism.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a vision disorder that makes it difficult to clearly see images. It occurs when you don’t have a perfectly round cornea, or the back of the eye isn’t perfectly flat. Since the structure of your eye is not perfectly formed, the light coming into it is not received perfectly. These defects make it difficult for your eye to see things clearly. It often results in blurry vision since the light doesn’t focus properly.

What Types of Contact Lenses will Work with Astigmatism?

It’s important to choose contact lenses that will work with your eyes because not all contact lenses will fit properly if you have astigmatism. The main types of contacts that work with this condition are more curved than normal lenses. This extra curvature rounds the surface over the eye to help focus the light better. However, the amount of deformity caused by astigmatism will limit which contacts you can use. Contacts cannot fully correct astigmatism.

Mild Astigmatism is Okay

Mild astigmatism isn’t too much of a problem when you’re wearing contact lenses. The risks for eye injuries when having moderate astigmatism are low. The only thing you have to be careful of is buying contacts with the wrong power or if your eyes dry out quickly. Your visual acuity in mild astigmatism is the same as it would be in people who don’t have astigmatism.

Specialized Astigmatism Contacts

For moderate astigmatism, you can wear contact lenses. You don’t need to wear glasses unless you want to use them for vision correction. Moderate astigmatism requires special contact lenses that are designed to keep the eye moist and comfortable. However, this type of lens won’t give you perfect vision. You will likely be able to see things clearly, but not as well as if you had perfect eyesight without astigmatism.

Potential Problems with Wearing Contacts with Astigmatism

Besides general discomfort, concern is high about the risks of injury to the eye. Those with moderate astigmatism are at risk for light sensitivity and problems with dry eyes. Dry eyes are caused by the contacts not providing enough moisture to the eyes. Many people have experienced blurred vision, especially when driving or flying because of dry eyes. Lasik surgery has been used successfully for astigmatism-related dry eye symptoms.

Check with an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist

Before you try to wear contacts with astigmatism, check with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Simple tests can show if you have astigmatism and you’ll need specific measurements to see which contacts can fit you. Schedule an appointment with the Florida Eye Center for help with your contacts and eye health.

To schedule a consultation with an eye doctor at the Florida Eye Center, please call us at (813) 602-7336, or fill out the request form here to request an appointment.

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