Introducing Cylinder in Contact Lenses
What is Cylinder in contact lenses? It’s a type of Cylindrical Power that corrects astigmatism to a certain degree. The CYL value in Cylindrical Power comes in an AXIS value that represents the angle of the CYL level. Ready to learn more? Just keep scrolling!
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What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is an eye condition that affects the vision. The corrective lenses required for this contain degrees of Cylindrical Power and this is where cylinder in contact lenses will be of use. Believe it or not, we all have small amounts of astigmatism but it’s not progressive therefore it remains stable throughout. It occurs due to stress surrounding the eye muscles. This can cause the cornea to go out of shape which then results in distorted or fuzzy vision.
The symptoms of astigmatism may differ from one individual to another. However, the common symptoms are generally not very alarming, which includes seeing a double, difficulty seeing at night, increased in eye strain, headaches, and more. Far-sightedness (hyperopia) and near-sightedness (myopia) can also emerge when light passes to the retina.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “Astigmatism is measured in diopters. A perfect eye with no astigmatism has 0 diopters. Most people have between 0.5 to 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. People with a measurement of 1.5 or more typically need contacts or eyeglasses to have clear vision.”
As you read on, you’ll see what is cylinder in contact lenses doing to further improve the condition.
The Main Causes of Astigmatism
There are no exact causes of astigmatism. The older generation would typically blame it on either of the following factors – sitting too near the TV, staring at a device screen for too long, reading in the dark, reading while laying down, etc.
However, did you know that genetics plays a bigger role that contributes to astigmatism? We’re all actually born with small amounts of astigmatism but as we age, it develops even further. This conditions shows that cylinder in contact lenses matter.
Astigmatism is usually detected through a comprehensive eye exam. The optometrist will conduct a series of eye tests to examine the overall health of your eyes, and how it reacts or responds to light. An experienced optometrist would normally prescribe toric contact lenses in order to “fix” this condition. However, cylinder in contact lenses have to be prescribed accordingly because not everyone has the same level of astigmatism.
Does Cylinder in Contact Lenses Matter?
Cylinder in contact lenses matters because the value denotes the amount of cylindrical power required to further correct the degree of astigmatism. If the value is high, it’s most likely that the level of astigmatism is severe. Hence, the axis exists in order to improve the vision of an irregularly curved eye.
The values of Cylindrical Power in contact lenses is normally measured in increments of 0.25, but in a minus number format. For example, the values displayed will look something like this, -1.25, -1.50, -1.75, and so on.
All prescription will include values for Cylinder and Axis that will aid in correcting astigmatism. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also notes that Axis values are measured between 0 to 180 degrees. For most people, the Axis value will range from 90 to 180 therefore both parameters are required to improve the levels of astigmatism. You’ll also most likely have the same value for both eyes that usually varies between +0.75 and +3.00. This is a perfect illustration of the role that cylinder in contact lenses play.
You CAN Improve Astigmatism!
Yes, you can! Laser eye surgery is one of the best options that can correct astigmatism. It’s able to reduce astigmatism and even eliminate the need for prescription lenses or contact lenses with cylinder power. However, there is a possibility that the amounts of astigmatism can increase again after a certain duration.
What other methods are there that can improve vision affected by astigmatism? Corrective eye glasses and contact lenses with cylinder power are able to do the trick just as well. To achieve the utmost improvement in your vision, an optometrist will most definitely prescribe toric with cylinder in contact lenses. Due to its unique shape, toric contact lenses create different focusing powers that can further aid in aligning corneal or lenticular astigmatism.
Help! Where Can I Buy Contact Lenses with Cylinder Power?
At UNIQSO, we carry a wide array of clear toric with cylinder in contact lenses and even colored contact lenses for astigmatism. Go on, browse and select the pair that best suits your needs.