Oasys for Astigmatism Question

papergirl22 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-20-2011, 07:28 PM

Hi there. I registered a week ago and have been lurking about. I'm making progress in my lens saga but now have questions.

Background: Slight astigmatism always, corrected in glasses but never in contacts because I get so dang frustrated with torics and contacts in general. So I've always seen better with my glasses than contacts, but the contacts did the job when I didn't want to wear glasses. I also didn't have such bad vision that I couldn't go without either. Enter Acuvue Oasys...only lenses I ever had that I could wear strait out of the box for 10-15 hours.

Current: A couple weeks ago my vision seemed to change overnight. Not sure what the deal was, but went to the eye doc (new doc as we moved last year). Said the astigmatism and vision had changed and needed to start correcting in the contacts too. Got new glasses ordered and proceeded to have probably 3 different combinations of torics in my eyes that day. I believe they were from cooper and the final pair I ended up with was Air Optics. I told him that Oasys worked for me but he didn't offer them. I tried the air optics for a couple days. Everytime I blinked they moved around or shifted. They were thick and just felt uncomfortable. And, my vision was constantly blurred. I found out from this forum Oasys has one for Astigmatism and I called and had them order a trial pair. In the meantime my glasses came in and WoW!!! I can see great!!!

Today: Picked up the trial Oasys but didn't put them in until I was home. I didn't want to screw with new contacts in while I was driving around in mall traffic, etc. I popped them in tonight and they feel the most comfortable of the torics I've tried (in total about 5 different ones? maybe some of the same brand, different sizes or strengths or what not)

So comfort wise, they are pretty decent for the small amount of time I had them in, but my vision is still blurry. Is this a fit or prescription issue? I went up in the + number by .25 in my left and .50 in my right. My old lenses were +.75 left and +.50 right but no astigmatism correction.

Am I on the right track?

captainneo · #2 (**permalink**) 12-21-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papergirl22

Hi there. I registered a week ago and have been lurking about. I'm making progress in my lens saga but now have questions.

Background: Slight astigmatism always, corrected in glasses but never in contacts because I get so dang frustrated with torics and contacts in general. So I've always seen better with my glasses than contacts, but the contacts did the job when I didn't want to wear glasses. I also didn't have such bad vision that I couldn't go without either. Enter Acuvue Oasys...only lenses I ever had that I could wear strait out of the box for 10-15 hours.

Current: A couple weeks ago my vision seemed to change overnight. Not sure what the deal was, but went to the eye doc (new doc as we moved last year). Said the astigmatism and vision had changed and needed to start correcting in the contacts too. Got new glasses ordered and proceeded to have probably 3 different combinations of torics in my eyes that day. I believe they were from cooper and the final pair I ended up with was Air Optics. I told him that Oasys worked for me but he didn't offer them. I tried the air optics for a couple days. Everytime I blinked they moved around or shifted. They were thick and just felt uncomfortable. And, my vision was constantly blurred. I found out from this forum Oasys has one for Astigmatism and I called and had them order a trial pair. In the meantime my glasses came in and WoW!!! I can see great!!!

Today: Picked up the trial Oasys but didn't put them in until I was home. I didn't want to screw with new contacts in while I was driving around in mall traffic, etc. I popped them in tonight and they feel the most comfortable of the torics I've tried (in total about 5 different ones? maybe some of the same brand, different sizes or strengths or what not)

So comfort wise, they are pretty decent for the small amount of time I had them in, but my vision is still blurry. Is this a fit or prescription issue? I went up in the + number by .25 in my left and .50 in my right. My old lenses were +.75 left and +.50 right but no astigmatism correction.

Am I on the right track?

That's too bad that your vision is still blurred with your new contact lenses. You said that your prescription had recently changed. Is it possible that your contact lenses are still in the old prescription? Maybe your eye doctor looked at your old prescription instead of your current one or something?

papergirl22 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-21-2011, 03:21 PM

Hi. Thanks for the reply.
The new prescription is different because I went from regular contacts to toric. I think we need to tweak it or something, just not sure where...I'm wearing these today and they don't feel as thick as the others I've had, and don't seem to be moving around as much. But they're still a bit itchy, for lack of better description. I have an appointment Friday to recheck. I think this is progress, honestly...I just don't understand what the numbers all mean and what I should be looking for to adjust so I don't annoy the doctor further and can have a better conversation than 'uh, they just aren't clear'. Kwim?

My old ones are BC 8.4, O diameter and Sphere +.75, +.50 (L, R) Not much at all, really. My glasses always were more clear.

The new torics are this wild combination that I really don't understand...
8.6 14.5 +1.00 -.75 x 170.

I plan to wear these for a few hours today (I'm at 4-5 right now), more tomorrow (6-ish), then have them in when I go to the doc on Friday.

Suggestions?

Can anyone explain this to me SLOOOWLY...I get that the torics are to correct distance and close up vision.

packman · #4 (**permalink**) 12-21-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papergirl22

Hi. Thanks for the reply.
The new prescription is different because I went from regular contacts to toric. I think we need to tweak it or something, just not sure where...I'm wearing these today and they don't feel as thick as the others I've had, and don't seem to be moving around as much. But they're still a bit itchy, for lack of better description. I have an appointment Friday to recheck. I think this is progress, honestly...I just don't understand what the numbers all mean and what I should be looking for to adjust so I don't annoy the doctor further and can have a better conversation than 'uh, they just aren't clear'. Kwim?

My old ones are BC 8.4, O diameter and Sphere +.75, +.50 (L, R) Not much at all, really. My glasses always were more clear.

The new torics are this wild combination that I really don't understand...
8.6 14.5 +1.00 -.75 x 170.

I plan to wear these for a few hours today (I'm at 4-5 right now), more tomorrow (6-ish), then have them in when I go to the doc on Friday.

Suggestions?

Can anyone explain this to me SLOOOWLY...I get that the torics are to correct distance and close up vision.

Okay, here we go.

First off, toric lenses are for those who have astigmatism. With that your vision is blurry both near and far. To correct astigmatism you need special contact lenses called "toric" lenses. Those are a little thicker on one half so they sit on your eyes a certain way and don't rotate.
I'm a little confused about that "O diameter" thing. The diameter is the distance across the lens from one edge to the other. It should be a number, not a letter, and it certainly should not be the number zero.

Here's an explanation about your prescription I found on line.

Prescription example:
Right Eye (OD)
Power: -1.25
Cylinder: -1.75
Axis: 10
BC: 8.5
Diameter: 14.5

Left Eye (OS)
Power: -2.75
Cylinder: -1.25
Axis: 170
BC: 8.5
Diameter: 14.5

Helpful Information
OD = Right
OS = Left
Power (sphere): the strength or amount of correction. (usually number between -20.00 and +20.00)
Sign (-) or (+): very important! ( minus "-" for nearsighted & plus "+" for farsighted).
BC (base curve): determines the curvature of a lens, (a number between 8.0 and 9.3).
Diameter: diameter or size of lens, (a number between 13.0 and 15.0).
Cyl (Cylinder): correction for astigmatism. Toric lenses only, (usually a number between -0.50 and -4.75).
Axis: correction for astigmatism. Toric lenses only, (a number between 0 and 180).
Toric Lenses: Toric lenses include correction for astigmatism.

Does that help? It probably clears things up somewhat, but I bet you still have questions. Go ahead and ask and I'll do my best to answer, and some of my friends here on Lens 101 will probably pitch in as well. You've come to the right place.

papergirl22 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-21-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packman

Okay, here we go.Thanks.
First off, toric lenses are for those who have astigmatism. which I have now and have always had to some degreeWith that your vision is blurry both near and far. it is blurry near and farTo correct astigmatism you need special contact lenses called "toric" lenses. Those are a little thicker on one half so they sit on your eyes a certain way and don't rotate. gotcha
I'm a little confused about that "O diameter" thing. I no longer have any of the actual container. My OLD scrip which were NOT for astigmatism says BC 8.4, Nothing (0) in the Diameter column, Sphere +.75 Left, +.50 Right, In cylinder column it says SPHThe diameter is the distance across the lens from one edge to the other. It should be a number, not a letter, and it certainly should not be the number zero. Ok. It's just blank on my scrip. Sorry. I don't have the original package anymore. Again, they were just regular contacts not for astigmatism. I guess my vision was not so bad with astigmatism thus far to warrant the torics, plus I didn't wear them that often. Now it has gotten worse both close and distance, so I need toric now.

Here's an explanation about your prescription I found on line.

Prescription example:
Right Eye (OD)
Power: -1.25
Cylinder: -1.75
Axis: 10
BC: 8.5
Diameter: 14.5

Left Eye (OS)
Power: -2.75
Cylinder: -1.25
Axis: 170
BC: 8.5
Diameter: 14.5
The above numbers don't match what I have on the torics I have right now. Both eyes are the same and say
BC 8.6
Diameter 14.5
Power +1.00
Cylinder -.75
Axis 170
Helpful Information
OD = Right
OS = Left
Power (sphere): the strength or amount of correction. (usually number between -20.00 and +20.00)
Sign (-) or (+): very important! ( minus "-" for nearsighted & plus "+" for farsighted).
BC (base curve): determines the curvature of a lens, (a number between 8.0 and 9.3).
Diameter: diameter or size of lens, (a number between 13.0 and 15.0).
Cyl (Cylinder): correction for astigmatism. Toric lenses only, (usually a number between -0.50 and -4.75).
Axis: correction for astigmatism. Toric lenses only, (a number between 0 and 180).
Toric Lenses: Toric lenses include correction for astigmatism.

Does that help? Honestly, it does help a bit even thought the numbers you gave me don't match mine, I'm assuming they are meant as an example? It probably clears things up somewhat, but I bet you still have questions. I do, and basically the question is why is my vision still blurry with these? Is the power too strong or too weak, are they not fit properly? It seems like my close up vision is ok with these, only a little hazy in the right eye (good enough I think?) but distance, specifically the right is still blurry. Go ahead and ask and I'll do my best to answer, and some of my friends here on Lens 101 will probably pitch in as well.Thank you so much. I'm so frustrated I want to cry. You've come to the right place.

Thanks so much. I don't mean to sound so clueless. I just want to see.

MopJockey · #6 (**permalink**) 12-22-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papergirl22

Thanks so much. I don't mean to sound so clueless. I just want to see.

Well, I hope this thread has helped you. Don't worry about being "clueless" either. This forum is called "Lens 101" for those people who have simple, basic questions. We've got some rather advanced questions here, too, but most of them are pretty basic. I hope you'll feel right at home here.