Welcome to our guide on the difference between toric and astigmatism lenses. Discover how these two types of lenses cater to different vision needs and provide optimal clarity and comfort. Let’s dive in!
What Is The Difference Between Toric And Astigmatism Lenses?
Toric lenses stand out primarily due to their unique shape. Unlike regular contact lenses that possess a spherical form resembling a slice of a basketball, toric lenses feature a donut-like shape. This distinctive shape enables toric lenses to effectively address astigmatism.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is irregularly shaped. Traditionally, rigid contact lenses were favored for correcting this refractive error as they aided in slightly reshaping the eye to rectify astigmatism. However, long-term use of rigid lenses presented certain drawbacks concerning overall eye health.
Toric lenses, available in soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP) materials, provide a healthier alternative for correcting mild to moderate astigmatism.
Another fascinating aspect of toric lenses is their weighted design. These lenses are specifically engineered to align with a particular axis on your eye. As you blink, toric lenses gracefully rotate on your eye to reach the desired position. In comparison, regular lenses maintain a consistent orientation regardless of how they are positioned on your eye, ensuring consistent vision.
Is a toric lens the same as astigmatism?
Toric contact lenses are specifically crafted to address astigmatism, a condition characterized by the cornea not being perfectly rounded. This irregular shape of the cornea causes light to refract in a manner that focuses on multiple spots on the retina rather than a single point.
Are toric lenses only for astigmatism?
Toric contact lenses are frequently the optimal choice for individuals with astigmatism who wear contact lenses, as they are purposefully designed to address this condition. The unique shape of toric lenses provides distinct refractive or focusing powers, effectively correcting both corneal and lenticular astigmatism. These lenses incorporate a thicker zone to prevent rotation while they are on your eyes, ensuring consistent orientation and reliable visual acuity.
Achieving a precise fit is crucial for toric contact lenses since they need to be placed on your eye in a specific manner. Similar to the equator encircling the middle of the Earth, toric lenses feature a central axis to maintain clear line of vision. This axis plays a vital role in aligning the lenses appropriately and maximizing their effectiveness.
What level of astigmatism require a toric lens?
Dr. Raviv suggests utilizing toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) as the preferred choice for treating astigmatism during cataract surgery. Generally speaking, toric IOLs are recommended for addressing with-the-rule astigmatism greater than 1.5 diopters (D) and against-the-rule astigmatism greater than 0.4 D.
He emphasizes the importance of correcting astigmatism effectively, especially when using presbyopia-correcting IOLs to achieve favorable outcomes. Considering that a significant portion of cataract patients are older individuals who commonly exhibit against-the-rule astigmatism, Dr. Raviv states that more than half of his patients opting for presbyopia-correcting IOLs opt for the toric version.
Dr. Vann highlights the significance of conducting a comprehensive and thorough preoperative workup as the foundation for obtaining successful results. When dealing with patients requiring toric lenses, he suggests that if the preoperative workup and measurements are consistently thorough and comprehensive, there is no need to make significant alterations to the workup process.
What happens if you wear non toric lenses with astigmatism?
If you have astigmatism, it is crucial to wear specialized contact lenses to prevent the worsening of your condition. Regular contact lenses do not fully address your cornea’s irregularity, leading to further visual impairment.
The optimal choice for contact lens wearers with astigmatism is to use astigmatism contact lenses. These lenses are specifically designed to correct astigmatism and provide the necessary visual correction.
Toric and astigmatism lenses are different in terms of their design and purpose. Toric lenses correct astigmatism, while astigmatism lenses refer to lenses specifically designed for people with astigmatism.
