Eye health is so much more than just regular glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Modern medicine has offered us so many unique forms of corrective eyewear to ensure we are seeing the best we can and feeling the best we can. Toric contact lenses are just another great invention to help us see properly, but you may be asking yourself what are toric contact lenses? And Do I need them? Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Toric Lenses?
Toric contact lenses are specially designed contacts that are made for eyes that have a curved cornea or lens in their eyes. If your corneas are curved in a way that is different than the normal eye, this can cause the refraction of your eyes to differ between horizontal and vertical planes, causing blurry vision, headaches, and overall trouble seeing and focusing. Toric lenses are meant to correct the issues that arise from a curved cornea, allowing the wearer to see clearly.
Who Needs Toric Lenses?
Unlike regular contact lenses, toric lenses are not used for most people with difficulty seeing, they’re reserved for people with a specific eye condition. Toric contact lenses are most commonly used for people with astigmatism, as this condition causes the curvature of the cornea and lens in the eye. Depending on the curvature of the person’s cornea, as well as their individual needs, toric lenses can be designed in several different ways including thin and thick zones, lens truncation (the bottom of the lens is cut off), and ballasting (the lens is heavier in some places).
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a refractive error that occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye is misshapen. This causes blurred vision for both nearsightedness and farsightedness and must be corrected with specialty corrective lenses (toric contact lenses). Astigmatism can be identified through regular eye exams and can be treated with either toric lenses or refractive surgery.
Eye exams help to diagnose astigmatism and decide whether or not toric contact lenses are right for you.
Book your eye exam at your nearest Hakim Optical Store today!
Hakim Optical has provided Canadians with quality corrective lenses at a value that can’t be beat for over 55 years. Our knowledgeable staff and optometrists are here to help you find an eyewear solution tailored specifically to you.
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