Astigmatism — causes, symptoms, treatments

ACUVUE
Boxes of ACUVUE® Vita®, ACUVUE® Moist, and Oasys contact lenses, a popular brand known for its exceptional comfort and visual clarity

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is blurry or distorted vision caused by an abnormal curvature of the eye's surface.

Your eye works best when its surface is round like a basketball, but with astigmatism, it's shaped more like a football. This shape makes it more difficult to focus the light coming in to your eye.

Astigmatism is common. Some are born with it, some develop it over time, and some experience it after an eye injury or eye surgery. In most cases, it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Get contact lenses for astigmatism

Try lenses for astigmatism for free*

Provide some basic information and get a certificate for a free* trial pair.

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Types of astigmatism contacts can address

Regular

The cornea is curved more in one direction than another, which creates two focal points in your eye rather than one. We offer contact lenses that can address this type of astigmatism.

See ACUVUE Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

Irregular

Less common than regular astigmatism, the curvature of the eye's surface is uneven, or curved in multiple directions. While ACUVUE does not offer contact lenses that address irregular astigmatism, it can be addressed with rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Your eye doctor can help find the right type of lenses for you.

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Symptoms of astigmatism

  • Blurry or distorted vision at all distances
  • Eyestrain
  • Headaches
  • Eye fatigue
  • Squinting
  • Difficulty seeing at night

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Detection and diagnosis

Your eye doctor can diagnose astigmatism during your annual eye exam by measuring how your eyes focus. Be sure to share your concerns or blurry vision at that time. If you need vision correction, your doctor will be able to provide you with a prescription.
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How to correct astigmatism

Astigmatism can typically be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. To correct for astigmatism with contact lenses, a “toric” lens is required. This kind of lens has two curves made specifically to correct for the multiple focal points.

Why choose ACUVUE for astigmatism?

Clear vision near and far

Contacts provide unobstructed sight and correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness or farsightedness.

BLINK STABILIZED® Design

For astigmatism, it’s extremely important that your lenses stay in place for clear vision. Ours realigns with every blink.

Great for active lifestyles

Your vision stays clear and stable as you run, jump and twist. And unlike glasses, there's no risk of breaking contacts.

Apply and remove hassle free

Due to the contact lens's design, it can't be put on upside down like most other lenses for astigmatism.

UV protection#

ACUVUE offers UV blocking# across its entire line of contact lenses, including those for astigmatism.

ACUVUE Contact Lenses made for astigmatism

Get started with ACUVUE contact lenses

Try ACUVUE for free*

Provide some basic information and get a certificate for a free* trial pair

Find an eye doctor

Use our locator tool to find a doctor who can fit you with ACUVUE contact lenses

Earn rewards

Become a MyACUVUE® member and get access to exclusive offers

Related content

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A closer look at astigmatism

Take a deeper dive into how astigmatism works and what can be done by your eye doctor to treat it.

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Understanding the different types of astigmatism

Astigmatism isn't one-size-fits-all. The way your eye doctor will treat your astigmatism depends on the kind of astigmatism you have.

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Astigmatism: The impact of lights & driving at night

Uncorrected astigmatism can present some challenges when encountering bright lights at night.

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Toric contact lenses for astigmatism - What are they?

Discover how toric contact lenses work to correct astigmatism.

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Astigmatism treatments: Can it be fixed or cured permanently?

Dive deeper into the different treatment options available for astigmatism, including contact lenses and laser surgery.

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Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.

#Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

Reward amount dependent on ACUVUE product and quantity purchased and if you are a new wearer. Must get an eye exam and purchase from participating provider. Original receipt required. Valid thru 06/30/24.
Rewards paid in the form of an ACUVUE brand Prepaid Mastercard. Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted in the U.S. issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Your use of the prepaid card is governed by the Cardholder Agreement, and some fees may apply. This is not a gift card. Please note that prepaid cards are subject to expiration, so pay close attention to the expiration date of the card.

Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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