Quick answer: If you have astigmatism, you can absolutely wear contact lenses. Toric lenses are specifically designed for astigmatism and are available in daily and monthly formats at yateemopticsuae.com.

One of the most common things we hear from customers is: "I was told I can't wear contact lenses because I have astigmatism." We have good news for you — that is simply not true anymore. Modern toric contact lenses are designed specifically for astigmatism, and they work brilliantly.

Let's clear up the confusion and help you understand what your options are.

What Is Astigmatism, Exactly?

Astigmatism is one of the most common refractive errors in the world — and in the UAE, it is extremely prevalent. It occurs when the cornea (the clear front of the eye) or the lens inside the eye is not perfectly round, but instead has a slightly oval shape, like a rugby ball rather than a football.

This irregular curvature means light does not focus on a single point on the retina, which causes blurring, distortion, or ghosting of both near and distant objects. Astigmatism is measured by two values in your prescription: CYL (cylinder) and Axis.

It can occur on its own, or alongside short-sightedness (myopia) or long-sightedness (hyperopia), which is why many people with astigmatism have a more complex prescription.

Why Regular Contact Lenses Don't Work for Astigmatism

Standard (spherical) contact lenses are round and symmetrical. They are designed to correct vision equally in all directions. For someone with astigmatism, that is not enough — the lens needs to provide different levels of correction at different orientations to match the irregular corneal shape.

When a spherical lens is placed on an eye with astigmatism, it can rotate on the cornea and cause blurred or fluctuating vision. This is why regular lenses do not work well for astigmatism — and why toric lenses were developed.

What Are Toric Contact Lenses?

Toric lenses are a special type of contact lens specifically engineered for astigmatism. They have two different curvatures — one to correct the regular focusing error, and another to correct the astigmatism component of the prescription.

Crucially, toric lenses are designed to stay in the correct orientation on your eye. They use one of two stabilisation methods:

• Prism ballast: A slight thickness at the bottom of the lens acts like a weight to keep it oriented correctly
• Peri-ballast / accelerated stabilisation: Multiple stabilisation zones around the lens surface that work with the natural movements of your eyelids

Acuvue — one of the top-selling brands on yateemopticsuae.com — uses their BLINK STABILIZED® Design, which uses the natural blink to correct lens orientation within seconds, providing fast, consistent clear vision.

Toric Lenses Available at yateemopticsuae.com

Tips for Wearing Toric Lenses in the UAE Climate

Toric lenses sit on the eye in a specific orientation, which means keeping them comfortable throughout the day is important — especially in the UAE's dry climate. Here are our best tips:

1. Use lubricating drops: Preservative-free eye drops compatible with contact lenses keep toric lenses comfortable in air-conditioned environments
2. Blink consciously: Screen users often blink less frequently, which can cause toric lenses to dry out and rotate out of position
3. Give yourself time to adapt: New toric lens wearers usually need one to two weeks to fully adapt to the stabilisation system. Vision should settle within a few seconds of each blink — if it does not, contact us
4. Never overwear: Toric lenses need oxygen just like any contact lens. Follow the recommended wearing schedule for your specific lens

Can I Get Coloured Toric Lenses?

Great news — yes! Coloured toric lenses combine astigmatism correction with colour enhancement, so you do not have to choose between clear vision and beautiful eyes. Bella and Amara both offer coloured monthly lenses for astigmatism, available at yateemopticsuae.com.

Have astigmatism and want to try coloured lenses? Browse our Colour + Astigmatism range at yateemopticsuae.com. Every order ships free across the UAE.

How to Order Toric Lenses at yateemopticsuae.com

When ordering toric lenses, you will need the following values from your prescription:

• Sphere (SPH) — your main distance or near correction
• Cylinder (CYL) — the astigmatism power
• Axis — the orientation of the astigmatism correction (a number from 1 to 180)

Simply select the Astigmatism category on our website, choose your brand, and enter your prescription values. If anything is unclear, our team is happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need toric lenses?

Check your prescription. If it includes a CYL (cylinder) value and an Axis, you have astigmatism and will need toric lenses rather than standard spherical contact lenses.

Are toric lenses more expensive than regular lenses?

Yes, slightly — toric lenses are more complex to manufacture due to the stabilisation design and dual-curvature optics. The price difference is typically AED 20 to AED 60 per pack compared to equivalent spherical lenses.

My toric lenses keep blurring and then clearing. Is that normal?

Some fluctuation is normal as the lens settles after blinking. However, persistent blurring or a lens that does not settle within a few seconds may indicate incorrect fit or a prescription issue. Contact us and we can help troubleshoot.

Can I try toric daily lenses before committing to a monthly supply?

Yes — we sell toric daily lenses in packs of 10, which is a great way to trial the lens type and brand before buying a larger supply.