Astigmatism – Special Contact Lenses

Astigmatism is a vision disorder resulting in blurred vision. It can happen due to the change in the curvature of the eye lens or shape of the cornea. Astigmatism can be easily treated with contact lenses although soft lenses do not help. People with astigmatism can easily use colored contacts. Others, too, can use nonprescription colored contacts.

Many people have taken to wearing nonprescription colored-contacts but those with astigmatism or blurred vision often worry about how wearing colored contacts will affect their eyes. Most feel that they do have no choice except to use spectacles to correct their vision. Astigmatism is normally caused due to a change in the shape of the corneal lens or the shape of the cornea itself. As the shape of the natural lens itself is changed a normal spherical contact lens cannot not help these people. The invention of the aspherical lens has been a blessing for people affected with astigmatism. This disorder can now be easily corrected using these special lenses called Toric lenses. Severe astigmatism requires surgical intervention. However, the usage of toric lenses has proven to be effective in majority of the cases.

These toric lenses serve the dual need of providing power to the natural lens as well as bending the light rays at an angle to correct the blurred vision of the individual. Individuals with astigmatism would normally also suffer low self esteem and could only dream of corrected vision and not worry about style and appearance. However, the advancements in science and technology have ensured that toric lenses are now available as colored contacts also. This means that astigmatism correction as well as the need to look good can both be achieved through these special toric colored contacts.

It must however be borne in mind that toric lenses do not fall in the category of non prescription contacts because their primary use is in fixing the blurred vision and not enhancing the personality of the user.

Nonprescription colored contacts for normal vision are in spherical shape and do not always require an optometrist’s prescription. Toric lenses have power and are primarily meant for vision correction. Thus, while it is possible to purchase color enhancing contacts in aspherical shapes, they must always be prescribed or recommended by a qualified physician. Toric colored contacts may be slightly expensive compared to ordinary toric lenses and should by all means be purchased under medical advice.

Astigmatism correcting colored contacts are also available in the same color ranges as nonprescription colored contacts and the popular ones are green, blue, hazel, black, aqua, amethyst, violet and brown contact lenses.

Brown contact lenses are common in places where most people have light colored eyes. Here people choose brown contact lenses to stand out. On the other hand, in places where dark eyes are more common, people will opt or green or blue contacts rather than brown contact lenses.

The advancement in optometry has led to the development of special toric lenses which can correct this vision disorder. These lenses are of a different shape than Nonprescription Colored Contacts but are now available in colored variety as well including Brown Contact Lenses.