Can You Wear Contacts With Astigmatism?

Yes, you can definitely wear contacts with astigmatism!

While this news may be relieving, it may not answer all of your questions. Understanding what astigmatism is, how it can impact your vision, and the type of contacts you can wear with astigmatism might feel overwhelming. But don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, we’ll discuss some of the most common questions about astigmatism and contacts. Let’s dive right in.

How Is Astigmatism Corrected? 

The two most common options for treating astigmatism are glasses and contact lenses. You and your doctor should discuss the best option for you. 

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea of the eye, or even sometimes the lens, is irregularly shaped or unevenly curved (like a football). Because of the irregularity, light rays are scattered onto various focal points on the retina. This can cause blurry or distorted vision, squinting, headaches, eye strain, poor night vision with glare and haloed lights, and other problems.

An eye prescription (whether for contacts or glasses) will correct astigmatism with cylindrical lenses that properly refract light onto a single point on the retina.

Glasses

Glasses for astigmatism have special lenses with varying prescription strengths across them to counteract the irregularly shaped cornea. Each case of astigmatism is different, but glasses lenses can be calibrated to match your specific prescription needs.

Contacts

Contacts designed specifically for those with astigmatism can be tailored contact lenses or soft toric lenses. These contacts are cylindrical lenses that correct vision differently (according to the positioning of your astigmatism) across the lens. For this reason, these lenses must maintain their shape and orientation over the cornea. Your eyecare provider may recommend specialty contact lenses such as hybrid lenses, rigid gas-permeable lenses, or scleral contacts.

Do Contacts “Fix” Astigmatism?

It’s important to note that prescription glasses and contact lenses won’t permanently repair astigmatism—they can’t change the irregular shape of the cornea. Only surgery can do that. (Consult with your optometrist or ophthalmologist if that’s an avenue you want to try.)

With that said, contacts can drastically improve quality of life by correcting astigmatism and improving your vision. Contacts and glasses can go a long way for many patients, making measures like surgery unnecessary.

What Kinds of Contact Lenses Can You Wear With Astigmatism?

Although some mild cases of astigmatism may not need treatment, a majority of people with astigmatism will need toric contact lenses. However, with all of the advances made in contact lens technology over the years, you’ll find a wide range of options today. Those with astigmatism can wear daily, bi-weekly, or monthly contacts across various brands. Your eye doctor will help determine which type is best for you.

Let’s break down the basics of the different types of toric contacts below.

Soft Toric Lenses

For many reasons, soft toric contact lenses are a popular option for contact wearers with astigmatism. Toric lenses used to only be made with rigid materials, but today they can be created with soft lens materials that often make them a top choice for comfort. Plus, daily disposable lenses—which are recommended by most doctors due to their ease of use and hygiene—are an option with soft contacts, which is an advantage for people who prefer to wear a fresh pair of lenses each day. (Bi-weekly and monthly toric lenses are readily available, too.)

Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses

Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses are also sometimes prescribed for people with astigmatism (usually those with more severe cases). As their name implies, these contact lenses are more rigid than soft lenses. However, depending on the wearer, they may be able to provide incredible clarity—sometimes more so than soft contact lenses.

RGP lenses consistently hold their shape on the eyes and create a pool of tears over the cornea, helping correct the effects of astigmatism. The material of RGP contacts can take new wearers some getting used to.

Scleral Contact Lenses

In rare cases, people with astigmatism might require scleral contact lenses. These types of contacts have a larger surface area than traditional contacts. Scleral contact lenses have edges that rest on the sclera—the white part of the eye.

Before being placed on the eye, the center of a scleral lens is filled with artificial tears. The center sits above the cornea with the liquid, helping to correct astigmatism. 

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Depending on the nature of the astigmatism, an eye doctor might recommend hybrid lenses. Hybrid lenses are exactly what their name implies—a combination of the “harder” rigid gas-permeable materials and soft contact lens materials. Usually, they have a rigid center that’s surrounded by softer edges. 

Can You Wear “Normal” Contact Lenses With Astigmatism?

Eyecare providers don’t usually prescribe traditional non-toric lenses for people with astigmatism unless the astigmatism is very mild. Letting astigmatism go uncorrected could impair your vision and even make it worse over time. That’s why, if you have astigmatism—or you think you might have it—it’s important to get your eyes checked. You’ll want to make sure you have the right lens prescription.

Can You Wear Colored Contacts With Astigmatism?

As long as your eye doctor approves it, you can absolutely wear colored contacts with astigmatism. But it’s possible you might not have as many options. The level of correction you need for your astigmatism could limit or exclude some colors.

Are Contacts Better for Astigmatism Than Glasses?

Some wearers do believe that contacts are the best choice for correcting their astigmatism, but others might not. Unlike glasses, contacts cover the entire cornea—leaving no gaps in your field of vision where astigmatism wouldn’t be corrected (i.e., your peripheral vision). But if your astigmatism is minor, those gaps may not even be noticeable.

Astigmatism or not, wearing contacts versus glasses is based on personal preference. While some people find contacts convenient, others might find them uncomfortable. Many people wear both interchangeably, choosing glasses on some days and contacts on others.

What Are Some Pros and Cons of Wearing Contacts With Astigmatism?

When talking with your eye doctor about wearing contact lenses for astigmatism, you may want to consider these advantages and disadvantages:

Pros of Wearing Contacts With Astigmatism

• Clear vision: Contact lenses made specifically to correct astigmatism can give you clearer vision—always a good thing.
• Other eyesight issues: Contacts for astigmatism can correct other refractive errors in the same lens, like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and presbyopia.
• Types available: Several types of contact lenses are available to address astigmatism. These include colored contacts, single-vision, and multifocal contacts with a daily, bi-weekly, or monthly wear schedule.

Cons of Wearing Contacts With Astigmatism

• Cost: Contact lenses for astigmatism are often more expensive than “regular” contacts, and they could cost more than eyeglasses in the long run.
• Adjustment time: If your astigmatism is severe, your eye doctor may prescribe specialty contacts (like RGP contacts) that may take longer to get used to than soft contact lenses.
• Less precise vision correction: Whereas eyeglasses can be made custom according to your exact prescription values, contacts come in specific, readymade parameters. This means your doctor will need to find the option that’s the closest and best (but not always exact) fit for your prescription.
• Rotation: Sometimes, contact lenses rotate slightly on the eye. When a toric contact lens isn’t in the proper position, vision in that eye might not be as clear. However, many contacts, such as Biofinity® toric lenses and ACUVUE® VITA® for astigmatism, address this issue.

Choosing the Right Contact Lenses for Astigmatism 

By now, you hopefully know more about contacts and astigmatism. But your eye doctor should always have the final say on your eye health and vision correction needs. That’s why it’s so important to have regular eye exams.

Each case of astigmatism is different, and not everyone will be able to choose the same contact lenses. In some cases, your eyecare provider might not recommend contacts. Ask your eye doctor about your options, then shop accordingly.