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Toric Contact Lenses to correct Astigmatism

Astigmatism is actually a very common condition, in fact most people have some degree of astigmatism whether they're aware of it or not. Unless the front surface of your eye (the cornea) is perfectly round with equal curvatures like a tennis ball you have astigmatism. For most people with astigmatism the curvature of the cornea more closely resembles an egg than a tennis ball. As a result of this uneven curvature light is focused at two different points on the retina causing blurring or even double vision in more severe cases. Special TORIC contact lenses, often being bespoke and custom made are required.

Astigmatism - uncorrected                       Astigmatism - corrected

Regular spherical Contact Lenses will only correct minor degrees of astigmatism however, as the degree of astigmatism becomes greater, more complex TORIC Contact Lenses are needed. Many opticians don't have the experience or the time to fit Torics so tell patients that they are unsuitable.

This is virtually NEVER the case - we regularly fit patients with extreme levels of astigmatism giving them vision superiour to anything possible with glasses- even with Torics to sleep in!

In fact in 1994 Geoff Wilson, practice founder and our top specialist, designed the highly regarded Biocompatibles PROCLEAR TORIC LENS to correct astigmatism. After receiving American Food & Drugs Administration approval it is now marketed by CooperVision and millions are being fitted by Contact Lens  Practitioners all over the World.

 Some patients come to see us knowing they have astigmatism and have been fitted with Toric Lenses but they still don't achieve as good vision as with their glasses. This is sometimes because the choice of Toric lens design fitted twisted on the eye more more often because the focusing lens inside they is also irregular in shape - causing what's known as lenticular astigmatism.

As basic procedure we use a sophisticated TOPOGRAPHER to produce accurate maps of the front surface of all our patients corneas. This immediately tells us how much astigmatism is ‘lenticular' and how much 'corneal'. Lenticular astigmatism, contrary to some people's belief, CAN be corrected with contacts but usually requires more complex bi-toric lenses as well as the skills of a really experienced Contact Lens Practitioner.

Click here for more information about correction of Astigmatism with Contacts.

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