Asking About Astigmatism
Lots of Singaporeans suffer from astigmatism, but do you really know what it is and how you can best correct your vision when you have it? The Lens Men - Parkway Parade optometrist Allain Yap shares his insight on what's commonly known as "astig."
October 2, 2008 —Astigmatism is a common eye condition usually present from birth -- a whopping two-thirds of people suffering from short-sightedness also experience the onset of astigmatism. This is a huge cause of concern for us because studies have found Singaporean students to have one of the highest rates of astigmatism in the world.
Astigmatism occurs when your cornea -- the front of the eye -- has different degrees of curvature in different meridians, making it irregular and thus challenging for the eye to focus light passing through it sharply. As a result, vision is blurred at all distances and astigmatism patients experience other symptoms such as tired and dry eyes and headaches from trying too hard to focus their vision. Astigmatism should be diagnosed by a qualified optometrist or optician in a full eye examination to assess the degree and extent of the problem. (For small children, a retinoscopy test is used in diagnosis.) The good news is, in most cases, it can be corrected by wearing properly dispensed and fitted spectacles or contact lenses.
Technological advances and eye care innovations have made it extremely easy and convenient to correct astigmatism by wearing contact lenses. Gone are the days of inserting Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses at certain angles to assist in focusing -- and yes, they do feel as uncomfortable as they sound. Today, toric soft lenses for astigmatism comes in a large variety to suit all eye care and lifestyle needs, from dailies, weeklies, bi-weeklies and monthlies to long-term wear and even coloured contact lenses. At The Lens Men and The Eye Site, we carry a wide selection of every brand and contact lens type, beginning with our in-house Medisoft brand which offers the convenience of daily wear without breaking the bank. For patients who need to wear contacts for long hours, Proclear Toric and Air Optix for Astigmatism are great options to ease eye fatigue and for those who suffer from dry eyes, a lens such as Focus DAILIES TORIC with AquaComfort keeps the moisture level high. For those who want to add some style, FreshLook Colorblends Toric comes in a variety of vibrant colours. Acuvue offers two lenses for astigmatism, 1-Day Acuvue for Astigmatism and Oasys for Astigmatism, both featuring the Accelerated Stabilisation Design (ASD) technology so the lenses don't move as much in your eyes -- the only brand with this innovation.
We'll be happy to help you find the right fit for any regular-wear or specialty toric lenses for astigmatism, so come see us for a trial fitting and we'll prescribe the best contacts for the sharpest and most stable vision while providing great comfort and eye health. With the advances in today's eye care, nothing should stop you from overcoming non-severe eye deficiencies so you can focus on a high quality of life!
By Allain Yap, The Lens Men - Parkway Parade
