Contacts - really bad astigmatism?

[Labradorks]

At the point where I really do need glasses all the time but hate wearing them. Currently I wear them while at work and I just despise it and I've had to start wearing them to drive and basically to read labels and menus and stuff like that.

Five years ago, I looked into contacts and was told that fitting me would be difficult and expensive due to the severity of my astigmatism. Also, at that time I was around horses a lot, and it would be even more difficult for me (dust, hay, horse dander, etc. plus hay allergies). I opted for Lasix, but had to go through about two years of corneal topographies as they were concerned with the shape of my eye. After that time I was told I am not a candidate for Lasix. I did not go back to the contacts idea as I was just wearing glasses sometimes at work and decided to let it go while other things took center stage (new job, new house, new puppy, some travel, etc.).

Now, here I am, several years later and I'm ready to revisit the idea of contacts. I have not had my eyes checked for over three years! Yikes -- could that be right?!?! Anyway, I have been following directions, wearing my glasses as often as I can and not rubbing my eyes (eye shape may create thinning of the cornea when rubbed) and taking my allergy meds. I'm no longer around horses, rarely around dust or hay or that kind of thing.

I'm seeing a highly sought after opthamologist this week after a 3+ month wait and am told if anyone can get me into contacts, it's him. I'm pretty excited, but don't want to get my hopes up.

Anyone here have a bad astigmatism but luck with contacts by any chance???

[dxboon]

They've made lots of advancements in contacts. I feel like every year when I go in to the eye doc there are new, improved lenses. I don't have astigmatism, but I have a feeling you'll be able to find contacts that work. I really like the dailies I use. They are pricey but very comfortable.

[arentspowell]

I only have a mild astigmatism but I have worn contacts on and off for about 10 years. I started with the two week pair, then a monthly pair, went back to two weeks and at some point, I want to say 4 or 5 years ago, my eye stopped being able to tolerate reusable contacts for more than 2 or 3 days. Anything past that and I felt like I had sand in my eye.

They started me on dailies, which I love, but my eyes get so dry from working on a computer screen all day. I also can't wear my glasses in front of the computer because they give me a headache. My solution has been to wear my glasses to drive to and from work and take them off once I get to work. I wear my contacts on weekends or if I have an event that I'd rather not wear glasses to. A 90 day box of dailies lasts me nearly the whole year. I want to get lasik so bad but it's pricey.

I really hope the doctor is able to get you into contacts!

[Snowshoe]

My astigmatism was so mild I didn't even need the prism in my contact lenses, the layer of tears formed enough prism for correction. And now I don't have astigmatism anymore. Apparently for some, me, as your myopia worsens and your eyeball stretches out longer and longer it can actually stretch the astigmatism right out of existence, which is what I'm told happened to me.

So I can't answer your specific question but there is a chance your astigmatism, if it's like mine, is not as bad now. Plus you may need less correction in contacts than you do in glasses. Probably your whole Rx for contacts will be at lower numbers but it's hard for me to tell if you are shortsighted (need for driving) or long sighted (need for reading) or you are getting into presbyopia, which is needing a different correction for close than you do for long. I wear mono vision contacts for presbyopia and progressive bifocals in glasses and switch between glasses and contacts with no problem.

[fidgetyknees]

I am like you, cannot do Lasix because of severe astigmatism. I have had not had luck with contact lenses, but really need them to get good vision (I see dramatically better with hard contacts than I do with glasses). I am off to a contact lens fitting tomorrow (haven't tried contacts for about 5 years), my hopes are not up that it will turn out any better than last time .......... I have hopelessly dry eyes which make contacts really heard for me, but apparently the lens the doc is going to try on me locks in the moisture (hard large contact lens - large enough that hallo's won't be a problem for night driving).

And I know it sounds odd, when I were hard contact lenses which results in 100% perfect vision, my brain and balance have a huge problem with it, because my body is just not used to seeing the world clearly (I see well enough to drive and do everything normally, it is just never a crisp image).

[doubledip1]

I have astigmatism and can't get LASIK due to severity of my myopia. I'm a -7 in contacts. I wear dailies Monday-Friday and sometimes weekends, glasses after school and on weekends because my eyes get so tired. I have Acuvue moist for astigmatism and really like them. And I'm around horses and usually fine with my contacts, I just don't wear them on days I stack hay.

[Molly41]

Acuvue Moist is a daily lens, available in an astigmatism version. I have astigmatism in my right eye, although I don't think it's too severe. I also have a problem with dry eyes and protein buildup so extended wear lenses were awful for me. These contacts work very well for me. The extra moisture helps greatly with both eyes. Even though these are daily lenses, before inserting, I rinse them with Optifree Refresh saline. (The newer version of Optifree causes me some stinging.) Sometimes, finding the right saline solution for you can make a big difference in the comfort of a lens. The lenses are a little more expensive but my eyes are very comfortable and that alone has helped reduce headaches etc. For me, well worth the expense.

[OHfemail]

If you are a candidate, don't give up if the first brand isn't right for you. I've worn glasses for over 40 years, and had been in contacts for 35 years. I have severe astigmatism in one eye, and as I've aged the whole 'reading thing' has also become an issue. For several years, an astigmatism lens and a lens in one eye for distance and the other eye for near was all I needed. Now my problem is that the difference between near and far is...well...too far. I've reached the point where they can no longer fit me, and it just stinks. That being said, there are so many lens choices out there, and the material they're made out of can differ widely. Some are tolerable, some aren't - I hope you find something that works!

[doubledip1]

Acuvue Moist is a daily lens, available in an astigmatism version. I have astigmatism in my right eye, although I don't think it's too severe. I also have a problem with dry eyes and protein buildup so extended wear lenses were awful for me. These contacts work very well for me. The extra moisture helps greatly with both eyes. Even though these are daily lenses, before inserting, I rinse them with Optifree Refresh saline. (The newer version of Optifree causes me some stinging.) Sometimes, finding the right saline solution for you can make a big difference in the comfort of a lens. The lenses are a little more expensive but my eyes are very comfortable and that alone has helped reduce headaches etc. For me, well worth the expense.

definitely agree on saline solution! I can't buy store brand. Optifree Express only, ReNu causes stinging too. Don't give up. The right contacts are amazing

[BogeyBaby]

You don't have keratoconus do you? That's basically where the shape of the cornea is cone shaped rather than round and causes the cornea or lens (I forget which) to thin out. Hard or gas permeable contact lenses work best for patients with this as it protects the cornea/lens from further thinning. My DH has it bad and has special lenses made to really fit each individual eye and they help the disease from progressing further (I think it can cause blindness, but I'm not sure). He isn't a candidate for lasix either, due to the thinning problem. Right now, though, he has a cataract in one eye and going to see a specialist later this month in hopes of getting that fixed (which should also improve his vision).