Why Don’t They Make Coloured Toric Lenses (for Astigmatic Eyes)?
January 22, 2010 by admin
Filed under FAQ on advance for astigmatism
My optometrists for the past 5-6 years have always told me that coloured contact lenses are not available (and won’t be any time soon) for people with astigmatisms. Why?
Also, I came across this article and this company called FreshLook Contacts who claim that they sell coloured toric lenses. Does anyone know about them, whether their products are reliable, and whether I should speak to my optometrist about them?
Thanks.
The main reason other companies don’t make colored toric lenses is inventory. To cover all the possible powers of toric lenses, it requires about 72 times as many kinds of lenses as it does to cover just the near sighted and farsighted powers. If you add four colors, you can multiply that number by 4. Disposable lenses depend on mass production to be affordable. Another reason that new colored lenses are not coming out is that the newest materials don’t seem to be compatible with colors.
I would think your Dr. knew about the Freshlook color toric lenses but doesn’t feel they would work for you.
The powers and axis available in them are very limited, and it is quite old technology also. They have been around several years, but have never been a good selling lens because it is not a very good toric lens to start with, even when your power is available.
ciba vision’s freshlook colorblends for astigmatism are available.
sphere minus power up to -4.00 and cylinder (astigmatism) up to -1.25.
ask your dr. to see if your rx is within that range.
buena suerte!