Toric lenses are especially used by people who suffer from astigmatism. This is an eye defect wherein all vision through the eyes is blurred and there exists a lack of point focus. Toric contact lenses give your vision clarity. Toric lenses have been available for a long time, but with the newer kinds of materials being used now have led to them becoming a more viable option for many more people.
Soft torics and hard torics. The former come in either disposable or non-disposable materials and the hard torics are made of rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses offering more oxygen.
For one to understand how a toric lens works, it is important to understand the effect of astigmatism. A normal cornea is shaped like a dome. Light rays focus to a point in the back of your eye, and you get a sharp image. However, with astigmatism the cornea is incorrectly shaped and the rays of light hit two points in the back of your eye. Toric lenses return to the same position even after a person blinks and still provide a sharp vision. This is because the lenses have thin zones and curvatures created at different angles.
Many people suffer from astigmatism today. It is also believed that women and children are more likely to be prone to it. The causes of astigmatism are many. It can be hereditary, environmental or even due to chronic eye rubbing. Even people who have diabetes can experience changes in the shape of their corneas.
If this eye condition is severe, it can be corrected by laser surgery. While for those with milder cases, a pair of eye glasses or toric contact lenses can be very helpful.