Can people with astigmatism wear contact lenses?

Many people in daily life suffer from astigmatism, yet some are uncertain whether individuals with astigmatism can wear contact lenses. So, can people with astigmatism wear contact lenses?

Can people with astigmatism wear contact lenses?

Individuals with astigmatism exceeding 100 diopters (D) may be fitted with custom-made contact lenses. However, if the astigmatism is excessively high, contact lens wear may not be feasible. For astigmatism under 100 D, the refractive power is typically converted to approximately half its value and added to the spherical (myopic) correction. For example, a person with 100 D of astigmatism and 100 D of myopia would have an equivalent spherical correction of 150 D (i.e., 100 D + 50 D).

However, when fitting contact lenses, the spherical correction must generally be reduced by 25 D. Thus, starting from the previously calculated 150 D, subtracting 25 D yields a final prescription of 125 D for contact lenses. It is important to note that the suitability of contact lenses depends on individual circumstances—particularly in cases of high astigmatism, even after conversion, visual clarity may remain suboptimal, and double vision (diplopia) may occur.

Poor eye habits often exacerbate astigmatism. For instance, reading while lying down or squinting while viewing objects can cause abnormal eyelid pressure on the eyeball, disrupting its natural shape and optical properties. Therefore, eliminating such unhealthy habits is essential both for preventing astigmatism and for reducing the risk of myopia. Since these same habits frequently contribute to the development of myopia, some mistakenly believe that myopia causes astigmatism. We hope this explanation proves helpful!