Astigmatism and age-related changes in your near vision often show up together in your 40s. Plenty of people assume that combination means wearing contacts for distance and keeping reading glasses close by for everything else, but specialty contact lenses can correct both at once.
Yes, you can wear multifocal contact lenses with astigmatism. A contact lens exam with your optometrist can help you find out which lens design fits your eyes and the way you spend your day.
What Are Multifocal Contact Lenses for Astigmatism?
Multifocal toric lenses combine 2 designs in 1 contact. The toric design corrects astigmatism with a lens that has different powers along different angles, so it can match the uneven curve of your eye.
Astigmatism happens when your cornea or the lens inside your eye is shaped more like an oval than a sphere. Light can’t focus evenly on that shape, so things may look blurry or distorted at any distance.
The multifocal part addresses presbyopia, a gradual loss of up-close focus that usually becomes noticeable in your early to mid-40s. Each lens has zones with different powers. That lets you read a text message and then look up at a street sign without reaching for glasses.
Who Can Wear Multifocal Contacts?
Presbyopia develops slowly, and astigmatism can make its early signs easy to miss. Pay attention if you notice any of these:
- You hold your phone or a book at arm’s length to read it
- Small print looks blurry in dim light
- Your eyes feel tired after reading or other close work
- You get headaches after hours on a screen
- Your current contacts work well for distance but leave close-up tasks blurry
If you keep a pair of reading glasses in nearly every room of the house, multifocal toric lenses could cut down on how often you reach for them.
How Your Optometrist Fits Multifocal Toric Lenses
Your optometrist measures the amount and angle of your astigmatism along with how much extra power you need for close work. Those numbers shape your contact lens prescription, which won’t match your glasses prescription exactly.
Tell your optometrist how you spend your day, too. Hours on a laptop put different demands on your eyes than long drives after dark, and your optometrist can weigh those habits when choosing a lens.
Presbyopia usually keeps progressing into your early 50s. Expect your prescription to change every few years during that stretch.
How Multifocal Contacts Stay in Place
Toric lenses correct astigmatism along a specific angle, so they need to sit in the same position on your eye. If a lens rotates, your vision can turn blurry until it settles back. Tilting your head to look at a high shelf or lying on the couch can sometimes move it.
Lens makers use different designs to keep the lens steady. Some lenses are slightly weighted at the bottom so they stay upright. In other designs, thicker and thinner zones let your eyelids guide the lens back into position each time you blink.
Daily vs. Monthly Multifocal Contacts for Astigmatism
Multifocal toric lenses come in more than one replacement schedule. Pick the one that fits how much lens care you want to take on.
Daily Disposable Lenses
With daily disposables, you open a fresh pair each morning and throw them out at night. You won’t need a case or a nightly cleaning routine, and daily disposable options can be a convenient, healthy choice for your eyes.
Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day Multifocal for Astigmatism is one example.
Monthly Lenses
Monthly lenses stay in your routine for a month before you replace them. Each night, you’ll have to remove, clean, and disinfect them with the solution your optometrist recommends. Keep them out while you sleep unless your optometrist tells you otherwise.
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA Multifocal for Astigmatism is one monthly option. It uses a material designed to hold moisture during long days at work or out with family.
Cost and Vision Benefits
Prices depend on the brand and replacement schedule you choose. Buying a larger supply at once can also change what you pay per box.
Check your vision benefits before your visit, since they may cover part of the cost. Bring your insurance card, and our team can help you sort out your coverage.
What to Expect at Your Contact Lens Exam
Your optometrist may have trial lenses in the office. You can feel how a lens sits on your eye and check how clear things look before you leave.
Small power adjustments are normal when fitting multifocal toric lenses. Follow-up visits give your optometrist a chance to fine-tune your vision for reading, driving, and your daily routine.
Tips for an Easier Adjustment
Your eyes may need time to adjust to seeing through different zones. A few habits can help during the first couple of weeks:
- Wear your lenses for the number of hours your optometrist recommends
- Try them during your usual tasks, like reading or driving at night
- Check how clear and comfortable your eyes feel at the end of the day
- Write down any changes you notice so you can share them at your follow-up
Get Clear Vision at Every Distance
The right multifocal toric lens can correct your astigmatism and help with close-up tasks in a single pair of contacts. Our optometrists at River City Vision Center fit multifocal and toric lenses, and we can help you compare daily and monthly options based on your eyes and your habits.
Book a contact lens exam and try a pair of multifocal lenses made for astigmatism.
