Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

Toric lenses are contacts designed to correct astigmatism — a common and generally treatable imperfection in the eye's curvature. Toric lenses also correct nearsightedness and farsightedness.

Features of Toric Contact Lenses

Standard contacts have a spherical surface. Think of a slice of a beach ball. Meanwhile, toric lenses are shaped like a slice of the side of a donut. Their name comes from the word “torus” — a geometric shape that looks like a donut or a ring.

Toric lenses have different refractive (focusing) powers on the vertical and horizontal orientations. 

Toric lenses are also designed to rotate to the perfect angle on the eye. This is because astigmatism requires contacts to be oriented in a certain way. That orientation is fixed, so when contacts shift due to the eye blinking or the head tilting, the wearer’s vision can be affected.

To keep toric lenses in place, manufacturers design their toric lenses with special features, such as:

• Thin-thick zones - In toric lenses with thin-thick zones, a part of the lens is thicker to keep it from rotating on the eye. The thick zone also helps reorient the lens the same way every time so that you can enjoy clear, consistent vision.
• Lens truncation - Some toric lenses are truncated, meaning the bottom of the lens is cut off a little. The truncation helps to stabilize the lens when the lower flat edge comes to lie adjacent to the lower eyelid margin.
• Ballasting -  Toric lenses with a prism-ballast design are made to be a little thicker or heavier at the bottom so that they stay in place on the eye.

Most toric lenses on the market are made of soft lens materials, including hydrogel and silicone hydrogel. Hydrogel is a thin, water-loving material that easily conforms to the surface of the eye. Silicone hydrogel is a polymer that contains both hydrogel and silicone — a gel-like polymer that allows up to five times more oxygen to flow through to the cornea than hydrogel.

Some toric lenses on the market are also made of rigid gas-permeable (RGP) materials. RGP toric lenses are more suitable for high or unusual levels of astigmatism.

Popular Toric Lenses

Some of the most popular and most trusted brands of toric lenses include ACUVUE®, Biofinity®, and DAILIES®.

For your reference, here’s a list of the most popular toric lenses on Lens.com in 2021. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it's a good starting point if you're new to toric lenses.

Ultimately, only your ECP can recommend a specific brand of toric lens based on the type of astigmatism you have and your unique eye health needs.

How Much Are Toric Lenses?

Soft toric lenses can cost anywhere from $50-70 per box of six lenses, with each box lasting six months. If you replace your contacts every month, expect an annual lens cost of $200-280. The actual figure may be lower or higher depending on how frequently you replace your contacts.

RGP toric lenses are typically more expensive than soft toric lenses at around $100 per lens, but each one can last a year before it needs to be replaced. Note that your ECP may charge more to fit you with RGP lenses because an RGP lens fitting requires more work.

How to Insert and Remove Toric Lenses

For soft toric lenses:

Start by washing and drying your hands with mild soap and water, then dry them thoroughly with a lint-free towel. Scoop your first lens out of the case with the index finger of your dominant hand and rinse it with a cleaning solution that’s specially formulated for soft contacts. Inspect the lens for any tears or debris and make sure it’s not inside-out. Using the middle finger of your dominant hand, pull down your lower eyelid. If necessary, use the middle finger of your non-dominant hand to pull your upper eyelid. Look upward and gently put the lens on your eye. Blink a few times to center the lens. Repeat this with the other lens.

To remove soft toric lenses, hold your eyelids open and gently pinch the lens between your index finger and thumb. Carefully lift the lens off of your eye. Repeat with the other lens.

For RGP toric lenses:

If your toric lenses are RGP lenses, insert them as you would soft toric lenses. Don’t panic if the lenses don’t feel comfortable as soon as you insert them. RGP lenses have an adjustment period, but regular use is key for comfort.

To remove RGP lenses, start by washing and drying your hands. For your left eye, place the index finger of your left hand at the corner of your eye and place your right hand below your eye. Stare hard at your right hand, then use your left index finger to pull your eyelid towards your ear. Blink, and the lens should easily pop out of your eye. Repeat these steps to remove the other lens.

About Lens.com

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