At Zacks Eye Clinic in central London we see several patients with high astigmatism who require specialist contact lenses.
Soft Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Soft toric contact lenses can be used to correct regular astigmatism. The lenses need to be stabilized so that they do not rotate into the ‘wrong position’.
For patients with higher astigmatic prescriptions, who require extended ranges, tailor made soft toric contact lenses can be made in any size, shape and prescription. However, those with very high astigmatism or irregular astigmatism usually achieve better visual acuity and more stable vision with rigid gas permeable contact lenses.
‘Because of my astigmatism and myopia, he took great care to examine the range of products available to ensure the best possible fit and visual correction’
Mr. Norman
Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses (RGP) for Astigmatism
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPs) have a rigid front surface. The lens covers the cornea to correcting corneal astigmatism and irregularities in corneal shape. RGP contact lenses provide an excellent solution for correcting high astigmatism and irregular astigmatism. Rigid contact lenses can be made in any size and shape from very small corneal lenses to very large scleral lenses. RGP contact lenses are also available with Toric (rugby ball shaped) front and back surfaces. These can be used to further improve their fitting and visual correction. They are known respectively as front surface toric, back surface toric or bi-toric rigid gas permeable contact lenses. RGP’s can even be modified in individual quadrants to correct the most astigmatic and irregular corneal profiles.
Hybrid Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Hybrid contact lenses for astigmatism have a rigid gas permeable centre with a soft surround. Hybrid lenses combine the visual benefits of a rigid gas permeable contact lens with the comfort of soft contact lenses. The soft skirt can also provide a functional benefit in maintaining good centration and stability on a very astigmatic eye.
Hybrids therefore provide an excellent solution for patients with high or irregular astigmatism that have been unable to achieve good visual acuity with soft toric lenses and have found rigid gas permeable contact lenses uncomfortable.
More Information
For more information on contact lenses for astigmatism or to find which type of contact lenses would be most suitable for your eyes, please contact us to make an appointment for a consultation at our London practice (30 Warren Street, London W1T 5NF).
