Questions about astigmatism and contacts...?

Question

I just went to the eye doctor for and exam and to talk about getting contacts for the first time. He said I have astigmatism so that will make getting contacts a bigger deal and it'll be more complicated. I asked what astigmatism is, and all he told me was that most people's eyes are shaped like baseballs, but mine are shaped like footballs. What does that even mean? Why/how does that affect getting contacts? Is it worth it? Despite his explanation, I still don't really know what astigmitism is. I can't even spell the durned word! I just need someone to explain this to me, or direct me to an informational site...

Oh also, I don't really know much about contacts in general...

Answer 1

I have astigmatism in both eyes and it's been described satisfactorily here already. It is not a big deal as I've been wearing contacts for years. The weight on the bottom of the lenses helps the cornea to appear as normal. I will tell you, though, depending on the severity of the astigmatism, you may not achieve 20/20 vision. I can only achieve 20/20 with gas permeable lenses and wore them for several years, but I found them to be uncomfortable. I'm back to soft lenses now. The comfort level with gas perms depends on the individual. If you're not happy with your doctor (is it an optometrist?), you may want to see an opthamologist. Also, you may be a good candidate for laser correction, which could permanently correct your vision. Good luck!

Answer 2

Getting contacts if you have astigmatism is not that big of a deal as it used to be. I have severe astigmatism (legally blind w/out glasses, I can no longer read the big E on the eye chart) and I've had soft contacts for 14 years. The major difference between contacts for nearsighted or farsighted v/s astigmatism is that the astigmatism contacts are weighted so they sit a specific way in your eye instead of turning while they float on your eye.
Astigmatism is when your vision is not just blurry near or far, it makes straight lines not appear straight. I don't really have a good definition...sorry.
Hope the contact info helps!

Answer 3

Some eyes have corneas that are round and focus light to the back of the eye to a single point and make objects clear and in focus. A person that has astigmatism has more than one curvature on the front surface of the cornea and is not perfectly round. When light hits this type of cornea it focuses on the back of the eye in more of a blur unless the astigmatism is corrected with a lens in their glasses or contacts that helps the light focus to a clear in focus point in the back of the eye. Fitting astigmatism is not really difficult, it just requires a little more time and probably a few more visits to get your vision perfect.

Answer 4

it is totally worth it. I have astigmatisms in both of my eyes and have been wearing contacts for 10 years. You do have to have special lenses (they're called toric lenses) but they help you see, and cause no more problems then regular lenses. I do occasionally have to 'refocus' them as my astigmatisms are quite bad and makes them spin round a little, but this is easily done with a clean finger. (I know this sounds gross, but after you've been touching your own eyes for 10 years you get used to it!).
Basically it means your eyes are shaped a little like rubgy (I'm from the U.K) balls, and normal lenses would spin around in your eyes making them lose focus.
In my opinion GO FOR IT! You wonlt regret it. I waited until I was 18 to get lenses, and wish i gotten them sooner!

Answer 5

normal eye has approximatly rounded cornea (the clear wet curved structure in front of your eyes) that focuses the image seen uniformly inside the eye exactly on the retina to be seen clearly.
but in astigmatism the cornea loses its rounded structure and become egg shaped (more curved in one axis) or it may have irregular curvature (not uniformly smooth) so the image seen is focused by the cornea into multiple foci with varied aspects to the retina (not usually on the retina) so the image will be blurred.
contact lenses can be worn with astigmatism ,but certain theraputic types :
1-soft which takes the shape of the corneal curvature.
2-rigid which makes the corneal curvature (corrects it).
the regular astigmatism (egg shaped) needs glasses ,rigid or soft contact lenses or refractive surgery.
the irregular type needs rigid contact lenses or corneal implantation.
however contact lenses have some side effects mainly intolerability and allergy (conjunctivities).

Answer 6

it is just a term defining the shape of the eye. it isn't round and smooth, it is oblong. Contacts are designed to fit on a round eye. You can still get them but they will have to be custom made to your eye and weighted so they sit on your eye correctly. Honestly, it's not worth it. Deal with it for awhile while you save money for lasik. THAT is worth it!