Question about contect lenses and astygmatism

[punkin]

My DD13 just got contacts, but she cannot see as well out of them as in glasses. The Optometrist said this is the best he could do because she has some slight astygmatism.

I need to be edumacated: what is astygmatism exactly; can it be corrected with contacts; can I ask DD's math teacher to move her closer to the board (this is the only class she is having trouble seeing the board, and in Geometry, it's all visual); should I get a new optometrist becasue mine can't seem to explain anything so I understand my options (absolute pronouncements, he's great at)

 

[DisneyDotty]

Astigmatism means the eye's surface is curved irregularly, so my understanding is the contact lens can't quite sit on the eye correctly. I have astigmatism, too, and I wear special contacts for it. My eyesight isn't 20/20, but it isn't too much off with the contacts. But I have worn contacts so long (20+years) that I'm not bothered by it. I do have much crisper vision with my glasses.
Yes, your eye doctor (maybe switch to an opthamologist?) should be explaining this to you.

 

[tkd lisa]

I have a SUBSTANTIAL astigmatism. In fact, back when I was younger and wore contacts, I had to wear hard contacts because of it.

Basically, astigmatism is when your eye surface is shaped differently than the normal. I think mine's kind of lopsided, instead of rounded outward (convex). Since the contact actually sits on your eye, if your eye isn't the "normal" shape, it doesn't correct your vision as well. With hard contacts, the contact stayed the right shape, which is why I could wear them. Soft contacts conform to the eye, so if your eye isn't normally shaped, the contact is actually deformed.

If your DD can see well enough for everything else, I'd just ask to move to a closer seat, or get hard copy handouts of the material (assuming it's computer generated and not on a blackboard). Hard contacts are really not a good option (which is why I went back to glasses about 15 years ago!), and if she's okay everywhere else, I'd stick with the soft contacts.

As far as your optomotrist explanations, only you can decide what's important enough to drive a change. After all, you always have DIS to answer your questions!

 

[CathrynRose]

Her eyeball is shaped like a football, rather than a gumball - hence the contact isnt flat on the surface. I also see better with my glasses - but wear regular old Acuvue, and see fine in them too - you do get used to it, as another poster mentioned.

 

[ZuZugal]

Both I and my DD11 have an astigmatism. We both wear toric contacts, which are meant just for that condition. They are "weighted" and have to sit a certain way on the eye. We just went to the eye doc the other day, and he said DD's vision is just better than 20/20 with the contacts. Maybe you can check them out.

Also, my kids are both going to be involved in a study using CRT therapy lenses. They are basically gas permeable lenses that you sleep in, take them out in the morning, and have good vision all day. They reshape the cornea at night. I am very excited for them....just imagine no need for contacts/glasses for sports!

 

[punkin]

Thank you. Quick, concise and informative. You guys are great. Yes, DD is OK for pretty much everything other than the geometry class (and that's because of her seat) She really hated her glasses and I promissed contacts for High school. It's a cosmetic teenaged thing. She's almost 20/20 in the contacts so I guess we'll keep them for now.

 

[Fantasmic303]

YES, change your doctor, maybe consider switching to an opthamologist. Even more than that, however, make sure you can get advice from a doctor who specializes in contacts and testing the fit.

I have astigmatism too (although my doctor says it's slowly correcting itself), and they do make special contacts just for it. Depending on how severe your DD's is, you may want to consider them. It's possible that because she's new to contacts, the doctor wanted to try her with different types before settling. While there might be a slight difference in her vision with contacts vs. glasses, she got contacts so that she could see, the same reason she was wearing glasses...if her vision is still too impaired to comfortably see the board in her classroom, the contacts aren't working.

I was diagnosed with Thygeson's Disease last fall (it's a looooooong story), and part of the reason I may have developed it is because of ill-fitting contacts. They don't really know for sure. I went through several doctors who weren't doing much to help me, and I ended up, finally, at my mom's optometrist. He explained that his specialty is contacts, unlike several of his colleagues that I had visited, including an opthalmologist. Unfortunately, none of THEM admitted that there may be people who knew more than they did about the subject, so it took a while for me to end up with him. The good news, however, is that he worked with me and gave me many samples of contacts to try because of my condition until he found one that fit well.

If your DD's doctor is not willing to try different brands, models, and prescriptions, you need to find someone who will. Trust me...once she finds a contact that fits her needs, her vision will improve, her eyes will be comfortable, and astigmatism won't be an issue at all.

Good luck!

ETA: Sorry, my reply took a little longer to type than I expected, so I'm a little late with the advice...hope I don't confuse you! Just do what you feel comfortable with!!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I am nearsighted and have severe astigmatism. I cannot wear soft nor toric lens as the degree of astigmatism is too great. I have to wear gas permeable contacts to get crisp vision. DD (11) is nearsighted and has slight astigmatism in one eye. The Dr. thought she might have to wear the toric lens, but the soft are fine for her now. Her eyes work together and see 20/20 with her soft lens. We may have to move her to toric at some point.

Your Dr. should explain the different contacts, and if her vision is really reduced, offer the toric if that would help! Or is she in toric?? Gas perms would surely work, but they are entirely different than soft lens.

 

[T1130]

Her eyeball is shaped like a football, rather than a gumball - hence the contact isnt flat on the surface. I also see better with my glasses - but wear regular old Acuvue, and see fine in them too - you do get used to it, as another poster mentioned.

Me too. I wear Acuvue and see fine in them. But the eye dr. told me I will always see slighty better with my glasses.

 

[sharbear]

I have slight astigmatism and I am very near sighted. My astigmatism is so slight they can't correct it with contacts, no contacts are made which will correct my astigmatism.

Mostly I just live with it. I can't read for long periods with my contacts, I have to switch to glasses.

I've had more than one optomtrist tell me that my astigmatism cannot be corrected with contacts. I would have her change her seat in Geometry, see if that helps.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I HAD an astigmatism and wore regular soft contacts. I did okay with them. I had my astigmatism and vision corrected with LASIK, so down the road that is another option for your DD.

 

[punkin]

Actually, my DH wears gas-permeables (his vision is so bad, that he's almost legally blind without corrective lenses.)

DD got soft, disposable contacts. Gasa-permeables were not suggested and I don't even know what Torric is? DD sees just fine for most things. She is not horribly nearsighted (-2.25 in both eyes) and the doctor said the astygmatism was very slight. We may have to live with it for now.

 

[disneymama73]

I HAD an astigmatism and wore regular soft contacts. I did okay with them. I had my astigmatism and vision corrected with LASIK, so down the road that is another option for your DD.

I've never tried contacts for my astigmatism, but I would LOVE to have LASIK done. It was a good experience for you?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I've never tried contacts for my astigmatism, but I would LOVE to have LASIK done. It was a good experience for you?

LASIK was probably the single greatest thing I did for myself. Yes, I had a very good experience. My eyesight was bad, I could't see the big "E" on the vision charts. Most people are back to seeing normal within 24 hours post surgery. My eyes took a little bit longer since my vision was so bad and I was under the laser a little longer. If I ever needed an enhancement, I would not hesitate to get it done again. Five-years post op and I have 20/20 vision.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I have bad astigmatism and until recently have worn HARD lenses (since 1978) and I LOVED THEM had perfect vision with them and the correct astimatism. But I was getting tired of them constantly popping out and when you get something in your eyes it KILLS, so I switched to Acuvue, I have to wear reading glasses w/ my contact and I hate the vision, but love the comfort.

 

[ssleblanc]

I have a moderate astigmatism in one eye. I wear a toric disposable lens in that eye, and a regular disposable lens in the other. It corrects the astigmatism.