Industry

Patients with astigmatism prefer toric lenses over spherical

Healio Optometry12h ago1 min read

Patients with astigmatism of at least –0.75 D have better vision with toric lenses than spherical lenses and report preferring them, according to a study published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye.“Toric lenses are frequently under-prescribed in some markets/countries, particularly in cases of mild to moderate astigmatism, despite strong evidence demonstrating their superior visual performance for refractive errors of 0.75 DC or greater,” Michael Read, BSc, PhD, senior research fellow at Eurolens Research, University of Manchester, and colleagues wrote. “This disparity

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AI Summary

Quick Take

A study published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye confirms that patients with astigmatism as low as –0.75 D achieve significantly better visual outcomes and express a clear preference for toric contact lenses over spherical alternatives. Despite this evidence, researchers highlight a persistent trend of under-prescribing toric lenses for mild to moderate astigmatism across global markets.

Why It Matters

Many practitioners still rely on the 'spherical equivalent' approach for low astigmatism to simplify the fitting process or manage costs, but this data suggests such shortcuts compromise patient satisfaction. With modern toric designs offering excellent stability and comfort, failing to correct –0.75 D of cylinder may contribute to unnecessary dropouts due to visual 'ghosting' or blur. This study serves as a reminder that clinical habits in many regions have not yet caught up to the proven visual benefits of toric technology for the average astigmatic patient.

Key Findings

Patients with astigmatism of –0.75 D or greater demonstrated superior visual performance when wearing toric lenses compared to spherical lenses.
Subjective patient reports indicated a definitive preference for toric lenses over spherical options for daily wear.
Toric lenses remain under-prescribed in several countries, particularly for patients presenting with mild to moderate refractive errors.
The research identifies a significant disparity between the clinical evidence supporting toric use and current prescribing patterns in the contact lens industry.

Study Snapshot

Design

Comparative clinical study of visual performance and patient preference

Population

Patients with astigmatism of at least –0.75 D

Practice Implications

Clinicians should treat –0.75 D of cylinder as a clear clinical indicator for toric lenses rather than attempting to mask the error with spherical equivalents. Proactively fitting low-astigmatism patients in toric designs can improve visual quality and potentially increase practice loyalty by delivering noticeably sharper vision than the patient may have previously experienced.

Who's Affected

OptometristsContact Lens FittersPractice OwnersOpticians

Evidence StrengthModerate

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