what is ther diferrence between contacts and contacts for people with a stigmatism?

Answer 1

different type of lens..

Answer 2

Astigmatic, "toric", lenses are a bit more expensive, as they are not made in such vast numbers for each prescription.

They are marginally thicker for a given prescription than ordinary "spherical " lenses.

"Astigmatism", the word starts with an "A", is only a variation of short or long sight. Any explanation which resorts to the word "irregular" is painting the wrong picture. With very rare exceptions an astigmatic eye is not "irregular". It just needs three numbers to define its correction instead of one.

Measuring an eye with astigmatism in any one direction horizontally, vertically or at any inclined direction will produce a perfectly normal short or long sighted RX.
With people without astigmatism, that RX would hold for every direction of the eye. For people with astigmatism, there is a different RX in two different meridians.
e.g. if measured vertically the Rx is -2.00, measured horizontally it might be -3.50. The astigmatism is the difference, here -1.50
So three numbers: -2.00, (an extra) -1.50 axis (direction in which the extra power applies) 90 (degrees)

This matters for contact lenses because it means astigmatic ones have a "right way up" as opposed to spherical ones, where it doesn't matter if they rotate in the eye. (They usually do, a few degrees every blink)

This doesn't mean you have to put the bottom of an astigmatic lens at the bottom of the eye (though they settle faster if you get close) as the lenses have built-in ways of swinging into the correct alignment.
There are several mechanisms for this, and if one method doesn't work well a change of brand, and method of stabilising the lens, may make all the difference.

Optometrist, retired.

Answer 3

You specifically have to get toric lenses if you have an astigmatism. You won't be able to use one-a-day lenses. That's about it.