astigmatism and contacts

ali-1411 · February 2011

I'm getting contacts for the first time in 10 years. I have astigmatism in one eye. Does anyone have the special contacts for the astigmatism? They cost slightly more, right? Do they make a difference, is it worth it?

Nessia · February 2011

I have astigmatism in both eyes. I don't think you have a choice in ordering non-astigmatism contacts if you want them to fit. Aren't all contacts expensive? I think I paid 350 for a year's worth of 2 week lenses. I'm pretty sure they'll last me longer than a year and I can sleep in mine for a couple nights. Acuvue oaysis

ali-1411 · February 2011

Nessia:
I have astigmatism in both eyes. I don't think you have a choice in ordering non-astigmatism contacts if you want them to fit. Aren't all contacts expensive? I think I paid 350 for a year's worth of 2 week lenses. I'm pretty sure they'll last me longer than a year and I can sleep in mine for a couple nights. Acuvue oaysis

LOL I don't know! Its been 10 years since I've had them. And even then my parents would have paid for them

Nikison · February 2011

I use to use Acuvue Toric lens, but my eye doctor told me they don't make them in my strength any more. They replaced the Toric with Acuvue Oasys, which I guess is about the same, I just liked the fit of the others more.

MrsNole · February 2011

I have Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism and I really like them! I never have had an issue with them. I have an rx of - 4ish in each eye and they are two week lenses. DH uses Baush and Lomb PureVision Toric and he likes his. His rx is only -0.5ish in each eye and his contacts are monthly lenses. I want to say my lenses were ~$300 ish for a year and DH's were much cheaper at around ~$180 for a year.

katattack · February 2011

MrsNole:
I have Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism and I really like them! I never have had an issue with them.

Ditto this. I tried a bunch of others, and while sometimes these get a little sticky (way before the required throw away time), I still prefer them.

PaxMama · February 2011

Regarding price: I've found Costco to be as much as $12 less than my eye doctor's office when it comes to ordering lenses. I have Acuvue Oasys for my eye with astigmatism and I use Biofinity for the other eye. I prefer Biofinity, but it didn't come in the size I needed for my other eye.

ali-1411 · February 2011

hmmm...does the price depend on the strength of the rx?

My eyes really aren't that bad but I'm nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. The difference between them really screws me up.

BLONDIE6FT · February 2011

i chose not to have my astigmatism corrected with contacts (my glasses do). i tried torric lenses and they made me feel really weird. you can get used to them--it takes a few days to adjust to them. but know that you CAN ask to have your prescription adjusted to not correct for the astigmatism. (if yours isn't too bad)

MrsAJL · February 2011

I have astigmatism in both eyes. I wear toric lenses. They're soft but shaped differently than contacts for other sight issues. I wear Biofinity toric monthly disposable lenses.

Nessia · February 2011

BLONDIE6FT:
i chose not to have my astigmatism corrected with contacts (my glasses do). i tried torric lenses and they made me feel really weird. you can get used to them--it takes a few days to adjust to them. but know that you CAN ask to have your prescription adjusted to not correct for the astigmatism. (if yours isn't too bad)

But do you still need to wear glasses? I've never heard you can choose not to correct the astigmatism.

BLONDIE6FT · February 2011

nope. i just wear contacts. when i'm tired, my vision doesn't seem as good. but i just could not stand the toric lenses. my astigmatism isn't too bad, so it may not be crucial for me have it corrected.

they normally don't offer you this option until after you have done the trial pair and just can't stand it. i just want to tell you up front that it is an option!

if you want more info from me, feel free to email me!! i'm happy with my vision 95% of the time.

alexluvstx at yahoo dot com

libbyann · February 2011

I have a really strong astigmatism in both eyes and didn't have the option of not correcting it. I use Acuvue Oasis lenses and before that I used the other Acuvue lens for astigmatism. I change them every other month...when I'm good about remembering! I buy them through Wal-Mart [which is the same as 1-800-Contacts] and pay about $40 for a box. I need two boxes per eye to get me through the year, so only like $160. I don't think that is bad at all...cheaper than lenses and frames for glasses!

BLONDIE6FT · February 2011

libbyann:
I have a really strong astigmatism in both eyes and didn't have the option of not correcting it. I use Acuvue Oasis lenses and before that I used the other Acuvue lens for astigmatism. I change them every other month...when I'm good about remembering! I buy them through Wal-Mart [which is the same as 1-800-Contacts] and pay about $40 for a box. I need two boxes per eye to get me through the year, so only like $160. I don't think that is bad at all...cheaper than lenses and frames for glasses!

i think it would depend on your astigmatism. if it was bad, you would have to correct it. but if it's mild and in one eye, then it's worth asking about. i don't think they normally offer it, but i've been doing it since i was 18. so each doc i go to, i mention i do not want it corrected and they seem okay with it. they do make more money off the contacts that correct for astigmatism. i order from walgreens.com when they offer 20% off, costco and my doc office (they match the costco price). i think most offices will. they won't offer it, but if you ask, they will.

HSartteach · February 2011

I have an astigmatism as well. I have used the oasys (I think that's what I used) and I eventually went back to my glasses. My vision is clearer with my glasses. I thought it was my prescription, but when I went back to the doc, it hadn't changed. I couldn't see the back of my classroom well enough, so glasses it was. I'm probably not the norm, but I wanted to share my experience.

ali-1411 · February 2011

So I have astigmatism in both eyes but its mild in the right eye and more severe in the left. He gave me a trial for Acuvue Oasis, he said if I'm going to correct one then I should correct both.

So far, so good. I can feel them but I'm adjusting. Such a strange feeling. At first, it felt like they would fall out if I blinked too much or something. I can see really well but the computer screen looks odd. I can see it, but its...I dunno. Weird.

Its the same Rx so I'm just adjusting to the contacts.

ali-1411 · February 2011

BLONDIE6FT:
nope. i just wear contacts. when i'm tired, my vision doesn't seem as good. but i just could not stand the toric lenses. my astigmatism isn't too bad, so it may not be crucial for me have it corrected.

they normally don't offer you this option until after you have done the trial pair and just can't stand it. i just want to tell you up front that it is an option!

if you want more info from me, feel free to email me!! i'm happy with my vision 95% of the time.

alexluvstx at yahoo dot com

The doctor said my right eye has a mild astigmatism and is far sighted, and the two issues cancel each other out. My left eye is near sighted so its even more of a problem with the astigmatism.

Are you far sighted? Maybe that's why you don't need to correct the astigmatism.

libbyann · February 2011

ali-1411:
So far, so good. I can feel them but I'm adjusting. Such a strange feeling. At first, it felt like they would fall out if I blinked too much or something. I can see really well but the computer screen looks odd. I can see it, but its...I dunno. Weird.

Yeah, this is because the lenses are weighted and have to have the weight at the bottom for them to sit right on your eyes [and thus make you be able to see!]. You will definitely get used to them, though! From what I understand from DH, non-astigmatism contacts can go in any which way and feel fine - these do have to sit the right way on your eyes. I don't feel them at all anymore and if they get turned I usually just have to blink a few times before everything is clear again.

I'm supposed to wear my glasses on the computer b/c it puts less stress on my eyes. I don't, but I should. For me, having an astigmatism makes lights get a "halo" around them...that might be why the computer screen looks weird to you. I have a hard time driving at night because of this.

kiarox2002 · February 2011

I've was told that I had a mild astigmatism when I was a kid. I started wearing contacts when I was 11 and IIRC, they didn't make soft contacts back then that could correct it so I just had soft contacts and dealt with the disparity between contacts and glasses because I didn't want hard contacts. (Do they even make those anymore?) My most recent eye dr told me that I didn't have an astigmatism anymore so I'm not sure if it went away or if I am remembering wrong from when I was a kid.

BTW, I only buy one box per eye per year. I clean them and then wear them again. Maybe it's because I learned to wear contacts when you only got one pair for the entire year, but having 6 for each eye seems luxurious to me. Plus I'm cheap.

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