Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism: What You Need to Know

Toric contacts correct astigmatism, a common vision concern caused by a misshapen cornea or lens. People with astigmatism experience blurry vision or distortions, even when wearing standard prescription contacts. Toric lenses aren’t the only contacts for people with astigmatism, but they are the most popular. Here’s a crash-course to get you started with toric contacts.

How Do Toric Contacts Work?
Toric contacts are much more complex than standard lenses. The secret is in the shape: most contacts are spherical – think of slicing the edge off a baseball. Toric contacts get their name from a shape called the torus (basically a doughnut). A shallow slice off the edge of the torus creates a lens with several focal lengths. This is necessary when correcting astigmatism because a prescription will vary from one point to another due to the misshapen lens or cornea. Toric contacts have additional qualities that help them maintain the correct orientation in your eye, which is critical due to the difference in refractive qualities across a single lens.

Can Anyone Wear Toric Contacts?
Toric contacts are designed for people with astigmatism. As with all contact lenses, you’ll need to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist to get a prescription. Your eye doctor will have to take additional measurements during your contact lens fitting. This is because of the misshapen lens or cornea – toric contacts need to be manufactured to unique specifications to correct astigmatism.

Can You Buy Toric Contact Lenses Online?
Yes, Eyeconic sells toric contact lenses from major manufacturers, including ACUVUE, Biofinity, AIR OPTIX, and DAILIES. You can buy daily and extended-wear toric contacts. Some brands offer multifocal toric contacts for people with presbyopia. Once you’ve found the right contacts, simply upload your prescription or ask us to contact your eye doctor to verify the details.

Can You Buy Toric Contacts with Vision Insurance?
Yes, toric contact lenses are medical devices and should be covered by your vision benefits plan or FSA/HSA. Eyeconic currently accepts VSP, MetLife, and Cigna vision benefits. If you’re a member of a different vision plan, you may be able to submit an out-of-network claim for reimbursement.

How Do I Know if I Have Astigmatism?
People with astigmatism usually notice slight distortions or blurriness in their vision, though the severity can vary. Take a look at our Common Vision Concerns infographic for an example of what astigmatism “looks” like. If you’re experiencing vision problems, visit an eye doctor so they can investigate. Head over to the Find a Doctor page to locate an optometrist or ophthalmologist near you.

Trying contacts for the first time? We created Contact Lenses 101 to answer all your questions about lens types, contact care, and more.