Contact Lenses to Correct Astigmatism In Tulsa, OK

Contact Lenses to Correct Astigmatism In Tulsa, OK

When you see someone wearing corrective lenses, you may automatically assume that they suffer from a refractive error that affects near vision or distance vision exclusively, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness (or presbyopia, if the person is wearing bifocals). But there’s another extremely common type of refractive error called astigmatism. Astigmatism can cause impaired vision at all distances, and ordinary contact lenses may not correct it adequately. But before you resign yourself to wearing glasses everywhere, you should know that specialized contact lenses can indeed correct astigmatism — and we can fit you for these lenses here at Harrel Eyecare in Tulsa, OK.Contact lens for Astigmatism

Astigmatism is much more common among the general population than most people realize –in fact, it’s likely that most people are either born with some degree of astigmatism or acquire it at some point in life. Astigmatism is caused either by irregularities in the half-sphere of the cornea or by irregularities in the shape of the intraocular lens that sits behind the cornea. These imperfections in curvature alter the way incoming light is refracted onto the retina. But unlike nearsightedness and farsightedness, which generally affect either your near vision or your distance vision, astigmatism subjects every distance level to a “funhouse mirror” of distortion and blurriness. 

Astigmatism Contact Lens Options at Harrel Eyecare In Tulsa, OK

One of the complicating factors in correcting astigmatism is the way abnormalities or “pits” can occur in specific spots along the cornea. This requires corrections that accommodate these specific points from a lens that will remain motionless at all times. This poses a distinct challenge for conventional soft contacts, which tend to rotate and distort briefly as you blink. Fortunately, our Tulsa optometrist have solutions to provide you with crystal-clear contact lens correction. These solutions include specialized lenses such as:

  • GP lenses – GP “gas permeable” lenses are more rigid than soft contacts. This helps them maintain their curvature for accurate vision correction instead of simply conforming to the irregularities of an astigmatic cornea. In effect, the GP lens acts as a “substitute cornea” by providing the constant, perfect sphere that the cornea underneath it lacks.

  • Toric lenses – Toric lenses have the advantage of being available in soft form, which some patients might find more comfortable. They may not offer quite the crystal-clear vision as GP lenses, but they can work quite well for less severe cases of astigmatism. Toric lenses are designed to be slightly heavier at the bottom than at the top; this weighting effect helps keep them situated so they don’t rotate.

  • Hybrid lenses – Hybrid lenses are a remarkable type of advanced contact lens that combine the comfort of soft contacts with the superior vision correction of GP lenses. the inner region of the lens is made of rigid GP material, while the area around the rim (the part that sits on your eyeball) is soft. 

Call Harrel Eyecare in Tulsa, OK at (918) 745-9662 to learn more about our contact lenses for astigmatism!