Contact Lenses for Astigmatism at Lavenburg Medical Group

Astigmatism is a common refractive vision disorder affecting up to one-third of the American population and includes people of all ages. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea of your eye has an irregular shape, usually in the form of an oval or egg. You are also more likely to develop nearsightedness or farsightedness when you have astigmatism. Getting eye care near you at Lavenburg Medical Group in Elkton, MD, and Newark, DE, is vital for protecting your vision and managing astigmatism. Our team is here to tell you about astigmatism and the contact lenses available for correcting this vision error.

Common Symptoms of Astigmatism

Having a misshaped cornea means light does not bend as it typically should when reaching the cornea. This irregularity can cause several symptoms, including:

•           Blurred vision

•           Distorted vision

•           Eye strain

•           Fatigue

•           Headaches

•           Squinting to see objects either up close or far away

You should schedule an astigmatism exam with our ophthalmologist if you experience these symptoms. Our eye doctor can determine whether you are farsighted, nearsighted, or a combination of both. Once we properly diagnose your eye condition, we can prescribe contact lenses for your astigmatism.

Contact Lens Options for Mild to Severe Astigmatism

Mild cases of astigmatism may require you to wear a soft pair of contact lenses known as toric lenses. Moderate to severe cases of astigmatism require you to wear scleral or rigid gas-permeable contact lenses for optimal comfort. Your ophthalmologist will tell you what type of contact lenses are appropriate for your visual needs and eye shape.

Toric Contact Lenses

Toric lenses have a football-like shape, while standard contacts have a spherical shape. This different shape benefits people with astigmatism since toric lenses can fit more comfortably on their irregular eye shape. The design of toric contact lenses allows you to rotate them on your cornea until you find the proper orientation to correct your vision. These lenses represent one of the most frequent forms of astigmatism treatment.

Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses

While your eyes may take longer to adapt to rigid gas-permeable lenses, these lenses provide sharper vision and can be more comfortable than soft contacts for people with astigmatism. These lenses help refract light correctly for people with more severe cases of astigmatism due to their shape. Rigid gas-permeable lenses also allow more oxygen to circulate underneath the lens than softer contact lenses.

Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral contact lenses are the most common contact option for patients with severe astigmatism. These lenses lie over the cornea instead of directly on top of it. An ophthalmologist at our eye clinic must make customized scleral contact lenses for patients who require them.

Schedule an Astigmatism Exam Today at Lavenburg Medical Group

Finding contact lenses that fit comfortably and correct your astigmatism is vital for ensuring your eyes and vision remain healthy, so contact Lavenburg Medical Group in Elkton, MD, and Newark, DE, to get the astigmatism treatment necessary to see comfortably again. We can provide multiple options for correcting your vision, so call us and schedule an astigmatism exam today at (302) 993-0722.