Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a visual distortion that is caused by a defect in the curve of the cornea. The surface of the cornea is oval-shaped like a football, rather than being round. Light that passes through the cornea becomes irregular, causing two focusing points. As a result, there is blurred vision regardless of the distance.

Astigmatism is usually hereditary even though several factors such as low levels of light or a great deal of close-up work can also contribute. Over time, astigmatism tends to grow slightly, but generally it will become stable after a certain period of time. Forty-five percent of all people who need corrective vision are astigmatic to varying degrees. The symptoms are squinting, headaches and eyestrain. In most cases astigmatism is accompanied by myopia and hyperopia.

In the past, people who suffered from astigmatism never believed that they could use soft contact lens. During the 1980s we saw the market introduction of soft toric lenses that, at first, were disappointing in their performance. Since then Opti-Centre Laboratories has developed different models of UltraGEL™ toric lenses that suit most cases. Added to this is the Resolution™ lens that also has its particular characteristics.

Here is how the toric contact lens corrects astigmatism:

The irregular shape of the cornea produces two focusing points of light in front of or behind the retina, resulting in blurred vision.
The toric lens corrects the refractive light and in this way creates a focal point on the retina where the vision is clear.