subject: What Are Toric Contact Lenses and Why Would I Need Them? [print this page] What Are Toric Contact Lenses and Why Would I Need Them?
If you just found out that you may need contact lenses, then there are a number of different options to choose from. However, if your optometrist tells you to that you will need toric contact lenses, then your options will be more limited. This isn't to say that you won't have options, just that they will likey be more limited than they otherwise would be. To give you a better idea of why this is, let's take a look at what toric contact lenses are and why you would need them.Toric contact lenses are made from the same material as regular contact lenses. This means that for the most part, they will feel the same. However, they are designed differently. Instead of your regular, spherical shape, the bottom portion of the lens is a bit thicker and heavier. This is because there are two or three different powers of the lens. It serves the same purpose as bifocals, only instead of looking through a particular portion to see clearly, you will be looking through every portion at the same time. While this may take a little while to get used to, normally only a week, the weighted bottom ensures that the lens always stays in place.The reason that you would need a toric lens is because you have an astigmatism. This means that your eye is not a complete sphere like the normal eye is. Because of this, your eye is receiving the same information at the same time because light must travel a little far to some parts of your eye than to others. While this may not sound like a big deal because the difference is extremely small, it can have a huge impact on how well you can see. In some cases, if your astigmatism is very minor, then instead of toric lenses, there are GP or gas permeable lenses that may be a possible solution. These lenses are smaller than traditional contact lenses and are perfectly spherical. Instead of being a fitted to your eye, they are firmer and allow the moisture in your eye to fill in the tiny gaps.While this may sound like you have limited options, you will actually have all of the same options as you would have with regular contact lenses. Along with a wide variety of brands to choose from, you can also get colored contacts as well. Keep in mind that because toric lenses take some additional time and effort throughout the fitting process, they will often be more expensive than traditional lenses as well. However, you can choose between daily, weekly, and monthly disposible lenses, which can also effect the cost.As you can see, toric contact lenses are designed for a specific purpose and that is to help you fix vision problems that are associated with having an astigmatism. Now that you have a better idea of what they are and why you would need them, the last step is choosing the contact lenses that are the best fit for your needs.
