2330 N Amidon Ave, Wichita, KS 67204

(316) 942-7496

2635 W Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67213

(316) 942-7496

415 SE Louis Dr, Mulvane, KS 67110

(316) 942-7496

8150 E Douglas Ave Ste 50, Wichita, KS 67206

(316) 942-7496

Wichita Optometry P.A.

(316) 942-7496

Contacts Lenses for Astigmatism

Contacts Lenses for Astigmatism Provided by a Wichita, KS Optometrist

Astigmatism causes your vision to look blurry or distorted, sometimes both up close and far away. Therefore, it can affect tasks like reading and driving. At Wichita Optometry, serving Wichita, KS, and the surrounding region, we help our patients with astigmatism see clearly through the use of specialized contacts and careful monitoring at routine visits. 

Contacts Lenses for Astigmatism

About Astigmatism 

Astigmatism is a condition that occurs when your eye isn't shaped correctly. Since your cornea isn't shaped correctly, when light enters, it doesn't reflect correctly on your retina. Because the light doesn't reflect on the part of your eye that's light sensitive, the retina doesn't send the correct image to your brain. As a result, your vision appears blurred or distorted. You might notice you have eye strain or discomfort. You could experience headaches. You may find yourself squinting. In some cases, in particular, when you have a serious case of astigmatism, you might have difficulty seeing at night.

Diagnosing Astigmatism 

In order to diagnose astigmatism, our optometrist will ask you to look into a lens. You must read the row of letters you see. Based on which one you can see best, we determine the strength of corrective eyewear you need. Next, we ask you to look into a different lens. During this test, you see two different images. You inform us which one appears clearer. We ask you to go through a series of them to thoroughly evaluate the extent of your astigmatism. We perform the test on both eyes. The results help us figure out if you need specialized contacts.

Contacts for Astigmatism

In a majority of cases, contacts can correct astigmatism just as well as glasses. If you only have a mild case of astigmatism, you may not need any type of special contacts. In the more severe cases, we may prescribe contacts especially for astigmatism or Toric lenses. These particular contacts are shaped differently than standard lenses in order to accommodate the irregular shape of your eyes. Because of their shape, they stay in place better than a traditional pair of contacts. Additionally, the shape means you have different refractive powers at different vertical and horizontal orientations. For instance, the lenses have different strengths at different locations on the lens. Toric lenses are shaped like a torus, which is a geometric shape similar to a donut. Besides Toric lenses, many companies make contacts just for astigmatism. It's also possible to use Ortho-K lenses, which reshape your cornea as you sleep, so when you wake up, you can see clearly without contacts. 

Schedule an Appointment Today! 

Schedule a routine vision screening with Wichita Optometry, serving Wichita, KS and the surrounding area, by calling (316) 942-7496.