Contact lens wearers w/ astigmatism?

[endcycle]

I've worn glasses since 4th grade, and I'm almost 34.
While I like how I look in glasses, I'm sick of them. Glare, limited field of vision, scratches.... blech.
SO a coworker tells me that I could get contacts - I've always thought that with an astigmatism it wasn't possible, but I was wrong apparently.

Does anyone here have an astigmatism and wear contacts? What are the brands to look for? What are the best prices online? Any suggestions before I go in for my exam on Saturday?

 

[Scotto]

I've worn glasses since 4th grade, and I'm almost 34.
While I like how I look in glasses, I'm sick of them. Glare, limited field of vision, scratches.... blech.
SO a coworker tells me that I could get contacts - I've always thought that with an astigmatism it wasn't possible, but I was wrong apparently.

Does anyone here have an astigmatism and wear contacts? What are the brands to look for? What are the best prices online? Any suggestions before I go in for my exam on Saturday?

Make sure you go to a really good optometrist. I have astig, and wore contacts for a while. They work, but obviously the toric lenses have to sit just so on your eyes (from a rotational perspective) or they will be blurry. After a while I gave up on them, since if they move around a bit (as they will on wet eyes), then they can not work perfectly.

 

[Fnord5]

They have weighted lenses that will always be oriented a certain way.

I do not have astigmatism, but I would never go back to glasses. It is so nice coming in from cold rainy weather, and not having my eyes fog up.

 

[Dennis]

Yes, I do. Make sure you go to a quality optometrist. It took me a while to get fitted but I am finally in lenses that are very, very comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that I have dismissed laser surgery as an option for now. I went through about 3 or 4 different lenses before settling into B&L Purevision.

 

[bro-ham]

I have an minor astigmatism and my contact rx is slighlty stronger than my glasses rx. it makes up the difference and I don't notice either way.

My wife wore the toric lenses 10 years ago, for about a week. She did NOT have a good optomotrist; he did not allow her to try another size or brand and told her to get used to it.

She is still in glasses.

 

[xdkeys]

I used to wear Acuvue toric lenses weekly. I could put them in Monday and take them out on Friday. I never had a problem, but the best thing I did was get lasik.

 

[PhoR]

I started out with [Bausch and Lomb Purevision Toric], and from my experience I wouldn't recommend weighted torics to anyone. They just would not stay put on my eye unless I was staring at something and not moving my eyes around (which pretty much ruled out sports, driving, and most day to day activities for me.)
A couple different attempts with trial pairs to get them to stay put on my eye and I gave up on Toric lenses. They just moved around WAY too much.

Then I switched to a trial pair of [Acuvue Advance for astigmatism]. They use thin zones (they call it ASD) instead of weights to keep the lens centered on your eye and that technology works a thousand times better than the weighted torics for me. I can wear them comfortably for days at a time (I actually only take them out about once a week).

My next box will be [Acuvue Oasys for astigmatism] as they are actually approved for extended wear and the Advance aren't.



The best advice you can get before pursuing contact lenses is:
Make certain that your optometrist is willing to try several test pairs of different products until you find one that works for you.

 

[endcycle]

How long does it take to get used to touching your eye?

Can I do it without a lens without hurting myself, just to see?

 

[Fnord5]

How long does it take to get used to touching your eye?

Can I do it without a lens without hurting myself, just to see?

A couple of days.
And yes, wash your hands well, and use wet fingers to touch your eye.
It might feel a little grainy after from the oils, ect. but a few blinks and it goes away.

Also, Clear Eyes eye drops are safe to use with contacts, I am never without a bottle in my pocket, as it makes for a great improv eye wash/lens rinse.

 

[Dennis]

How long does it take to get used to touching your eye?

Can I do it without a lens without hurting myself, just to see?

Not long. And, yes, just wash your hands silly.

I have been wearing toric contacts for about 6 years now. I was in rigid gas permeables, then into asystigmatic soft lenses. I have been wearing the Purevisions ever since they came out (2 years maybe?). Definitely don't get locked into a brand as everyone's eyes are different. The point is to get a trial pair of lenses, wear them a couple days and see how it goes. If they don't feel right or the vision is not good, onto the next pair, etc...

 

[professorchaos]

I have an astigmatism and wear both glasses and contacts (20/80). Everything is more vivid, for lack of a better word, with glasses. Contacts are much easier.

 

[linuxidiot]

I am relatively new to contacts for people with astigmatism. I forced myself to start wearing them after my brand-new month old eyeglasses were made short order of by my puppy at the time. I enjoy them so far, occasionally the right eye will move and get real blurry, but either a couple of blinks or wetting the finger to re-position the contact will fix it right up. At first my eyes would feel very heavy when I got home from work, but now that I am thinking about it, I am so used to wearing them until I get home and taking them out I dont notice any heaviness any longer unless I go for an extended period of wearing them.

They have weighted lenses that will always be oriented a certain way.

I do not have astigmatism, but I would never go back to glasses. It is so nice coming in from cold rainy weather, and not having my eyes fog up.

Also being able to wear sunglasses with your normal corrected vision is a major plus in my eyes I have also noticed when wearing contacts it feels like my eyes are more sensitive to sunlight.

 

[ZZTop]

I always wear contacts for sports, I don't play anything in glasses if I can avoid it just because not having peripheral vision is a real hindrance. When touching your eye, don't touch the cornea (the colored part), that's likely to hurt and you don't want to risk a corneal abrasion or something, but the sclera (the white of the eye) you can touch and will probably only feel mild discomfort.

You definitely get used to it though and after a bit you can touch your eye without any discomfort.

 

[Bluestaco]

Can you get them?
I have consistently been told that with my TYPE of astigmatism, my vision isn't all that correctable with contacts and that they would have to be gas-permeable hard, toric lenses, and they don't want to do that to me with what little correction they would provide.

 

[professorchaos]

How long does it take to get used to touching your eye?

Can I do it without a lens without hurting myself, just to see?

Been wearing contacts so long, it is second nature. I don't notice putting in or removing them. When doing either, you really aren't touching your eye, but touching the contact which is touching your eye. Learning to suppress the blinking while the contact settles into place is much more challenging.

 

[mgarbell]

I wore contacts for over 20 years before I had Lasik done, but never had astigmatism. You'll get used to putting them in and taking them out quickly.

Since I've had the surgery, about 11 years ago, I've developed an astigmatism in my left eye. I tried the Toric lenses, but don't recall the brand. Got a trial pair and wore them for a week. Didn't care for them too much.
I sit at a monitor most of the day and got tired of wait for the lens to settle every time I blinked. I haven't tried any other lenses yet, but I would strongly recommend that you talk to your Optometrist first and make sure that you can try more than 1 type if you want.
Also, at your age, Lasik is a good alternative too. I was close to your age when I had it done.

 

[instpasr]

I wore contacts for what seemed like forever, maybe 20 years. I can't remember the brand I wore but they were for astigmatism. I finally decided on PRK, my left eye cornea was to thin for lasik after a trip to egypt. Go with the disposable contacts, if you tear one (you will eventually) or lose one its no big deal.

 

[endcycle]

I wore contacts for over 20 years before I had Lasik done, but never had astigmatism. You'll get used to putting them in and taking them out quickly.

Since I've had the surgery, about 11 years ago, I've developed an astigmatism in my left eye. I tried the Toric lenses, but don't recall the brand. Got a trial pair and wore them for a week. Didn't care for them too much.
I sit at a monitor most of the day and got tired of wait for the lens to settle every time I blinked. I haven't tried any other lenses yet, but I would strongly recommend that you talk to your Optometrist first and make sure that you can try more than 1 type if you want.
Also, at your age, Lasik is a good alternative too. I was close to your age when I had it done.

i am TOTALLY into the idea of getting surgery - but cost is a huge problem at the moment. That will have to wait a year or two. The good part of that is the fact that the surgery will be better and cheaper by then - the bad part is that... well, I have to wait.


I'll ask the doc if I can try a few brands, and if not I'll get my prescription and start calling around.

 

[professorchaos]

i am TOTALLY into the idea of getting surgery - but cost is a huge problem at the moment. That will have to wait a year or two. The good part of that is the fact that the surgery will be better and cheaper by then - the bad part is that... well, I have to wait.


I'll ask the doc if I can try a few brands, and if not I'll get my prescription and start calling around.

A part of the prescription is finding a pair of contacts which fit your eye and lifestyle. If the doctor doesn't do that, find another.

 

[endcycle]

A part of the prescription is finding a pair of contacts which fit your eye and lifestyle. If the doctor doesn't do that, find another.

right on. Makes total sense.

Still, is it true that I could take my prescription and, say, order a box each of a few kinds to try them all out from an online vendor even after I'm set from my eye doctor? I see there are a lot of contacts out there for astigmatism at varying prices.