How to Apply Colored Contacts Over Astigmatism Lenses

If you're wondering how to apply colored contacts over your existing astigmatism lenses, it's crucial to understand that you should never wear two pairs of contact lenses simultaneously. This practice is unsafe and can lead to serious eye health issues. Instead, the correct and safe way to enjoy a new eye color while correcting your astigmatism is to use specialized colored contacts designed specifically for astigmatism, often called toric colored contacts. For more on this, see our guide to How to Apply Contacts When You're Squeamish.

Understanding Astigmatism and Contact Lenses

Astigmatism is a common vision condition caused by an imperfectly shaped cornea or lens inside your eye, leading to blurred or distorted vision at all distances. Unlike spherical vision problems (nearsightedness or farsightedness), astigmatism requires a contact lens with a specific orientation and different powers in different meridians to correct the irregular shape.

What is Astigmatism?

Imagine your eye's cornea (the clear front surface) or lens is shaped more like a football than a perfectly round basketball. This irregular curvature causes light to focus on multiple points in front of or behind the retina, rather than on a single point, resulting in blurry vision. Symptoms can include eyestrain, headaches, and difficulty seeing at night.

Why Regular Contacts Don't Work for Astigmatism

Standard contact lenses, known as spherical lenses, have the same power across the entire lens. While these are effective for correcting nearsightedness or farsightedness, they cannot compensate for the varying curvatures of an astigmatic eye. For astigmatism, you need toric lenses. Toric lenses have different powers in different meridians of the lens and a specific design to prevent rotation, ensuring the corrective powers align correctly with your eye's unique shape. This precise alignment is critical for clear vision. If you're weighing options, our roundup of How to Apply Contacts With Long Nails is a good next read.

The Truth About Wearing Two Pairs of Contacts

It's a common misconception that you can simply layer colored contacts over your regular astigmatism-correcting lenses. This practice is highly dangerous and universally advised against by eye care professionals. Here's why you should never attempt to wear two pairs of contact lenses at once:

• Oxygen Deprivation: Each contact lens acts as a barrier, reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches your cornea. Wearing two lenses significantly compounds this problem, leading to hypoxia (lack of oxygen). This can cause corneal swelling, irritation, and increase your risk of serious infections and long-term damage to your eye health.
• Increased Risk of Infection: More foreign material in your eye, especially when layered, creates a more hospitable environment for bacteria and other pathogens to thrive. This dramatically elevates your risk of developing painful and potentially sight-threatening eye infections.
• Discomfort and Irritation: Two lenses will feel thick and uncomfortable, causing persistent irritation, dryness, and a gritty sensation. This can lead to rubbing your eyes, further increasing the risk of infection and corneal abrasion.
• Poor Vision: Layering lenses will not provide clear vision. Your existing astigmatism lenses are designed for precise correction, and adding another lens on top will distort the light, leading to blurry vision, glare, and halos.
• Corneal Damage: Chronic oxygen deprivation and irritation can lead to serious corneal complications, including corneal ulcers, neovascularization (new blood vessel growth into the cornea), and even permanent vision impairment.

Your eye health is paramount. Always prioritize safety and consult with an eye care professional for any concerns about your contact lenses.

The Solution: Colored Contacts for Astigmatism (Toric Colored Contacts)

The safe and effective solution for individuals with astigmatism who desire a change in eye color is to use colored contacts specifically designed to correct astigmatism. These specialized lenses are known as toric colored contacts. You might also like our take on How to Apply Makeup With Colored Contacts.

How Toric Colored Contacts Work

Toric colored contacts combine the astigmatism-correcting properties of regular toric lenses with the cosmetic enhancement of colored contacts. They are engineered with specific features:

• Multiple Powers: Unlike spherical lenses, toric lenses have different prescriptive powers across the lens to account for the irregular curvature of an astigmatic eye.
• Stabilization Features: Toric lenses are designed with features like prism ballasting, truncation, or thin/thick zones to keep them from rotating on the eye. This ensures the corrective powers remain aligned with your astigmatism, providing stable, clear vision.
• Color Pigmentation: The color is embedded within the lens material, allowing for a natural or vibrant change in eye color while maintaining visual clarity.

Many brands, including MyEyeColors, offer a range of colored contacts that can be customized with your astigmatism prescription. This means you can achieve your desired eye color while enjoying crisp, clear vision without compromising your eye health. You can explore our selection of colored contacts for astigmatism to find the perfect shade for you.

Getting Your Prescription for Colored Toric Lenses

Obtaining a proper prescription is the single most important step when considering any type of contact lens, especially colored contacts for astigmatism. These are medical devices, and self-prescribing or using lenses not prescribed by an eye care professional can have serious health consequences. We break this down further in How to Apply and Care for Your Colored Contact Lenses.

The Importance of an Eye Care Professional

Only a licensed eye care professional (ECP) can accurately determine if you are a suitable candidate for contact lenses, identify the specific parameters of your astigmatism, and provide a valid prescription. This is not just about vision correction; it's about the health and safety of your eyes. An ECP will measure specific aspects of your eye, including:

• Sphere (SPH): Your basic prescription for nearsightedness or farsightedness.
• Cylinder (CYL): The amount of astigmatism you have.
• Axis (AX): The orientation of your astigmatism, measured in degrees (0 to 180).
• Base Curve (BC): The curvature of the back surface of the lens, matching your cornea.
• Diameter (DIA): The overall size of the lens.

Comprehensive Eye Exam

Your ECP will conduct a thorough eye exam that includes:

1. Vision Acuity Test: To assess your current vision.
2. Refraction: To determine your sphere, cylinder, and axis measurements.
3. Keratometry/Topography: To measure the curvature of your cornea, especially important for astigmatism.
4. Slit Lamp Examination: To check the health of the front and back of your eye.

Trial Lenses and Fitting

Once your ECP has your measurements, they will provide trial lenses. This step is critical for toric lenses. Since toric lenses must maintain a specific orientation on the eye, your ECP will observe how the trial lenses settle on your eye, checking for proper fit, comfort, and visual acuity. They may need to try several different brands or parameters to find the perfect fit. Never skip this vital fitting process, as an ill-fitting lens can cause discomfort, blurred vision, and even corneal damage.

How to Apply and Remove Your Toric Colored Contacts

Applying and removing toric colored contacts correctly is essential for both comfort and eye health. Always ensure you have a fresh, valid prescription from your eye care professional before handling any contact lenses. Remember, you're only applying one lens per eye, which both corrects your astigmatism and changes your eye color. It pairs well with what we cover in Colored Contacts vs Eye Makeup for Changing Your Look.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

1. Wash Your Hands Thoroughly: Always start by washing your hands with mild, non-lotion soap and drying them with a lint-free towel. This prevents transferring dirt, oils, or germs to your lenses and eyes.
2. Check the Lens: Remove one lens from its case. Place it on the tip of your dominant index finger. Check that the lens is not inside out (it should form a perfect bowl shape, not a soup plate with flared edges). Also, ensure there are no tears or debris.
3. Hold Your Eye Open: With the middle finger of the same hand holding the lens, pull down your lower eyelid. With the fingers of your other hand, pull up your upper eyelid to prevent blinking.
4. Insert the Lens: Look straight ahead or slightly upwards. Gently place the lens directly onto the colored part of your eye (iris). You might feel a slight sensation, but it shouldn't be painful.
5. Release and Blink: Slowly release your eyelids, then gently blink a few times to help the lens settle into place. Your vision should become clear. If it's blurry or uncomfortable, the lens might be inside out, or you might need to reapply it.
6. Repeat for the Other Eye: Follow the same steps for your other eye. Always start with the same eye (e.g., right eye first) to avoid mixing up your lenses, especially if you have different prescriptions for each eye.

Step-by-Step Removal Guide

1. Wash Your Hands Thoroughly: Again, wash and dry your hands with a lint-free towel.
2. Prepare Your Case: Open your contact lens case and fill each well with fresh, multi-purpose contact lens solution. Never reuse old solution or use tap water.
3. Hold Your Eye Open: Look up, and with your non-dominant hand, pull down your lower eyelid.
4. Remove the Lens: With the pad of your dominant index finger, gently touch the bottom edge of the contact lens. Slide the lens down onto the white part of your eye. Then, gently pinch the lens between your thumb and index finger and lift it out. Avoid using your fingernails, which can damage the lens or your eye.
5. Store the Lens: Place the removed lens into the correct well of your contact lens case, ensuring it's fully submerged in fresh solution.
6. Repeat for the Other Eye: Follow the same steps for your other eye.

Caring for Your Colored Astigmatism Lenses

Proper care and hygiene are non-negotiable for all contact lenses, especially for astigmatism-correcting lenses which are often thicker and require precise fit. Neglecting lens care can lead to serious eye infections and complications.

Hygiene is Paramount

• Always Wash Hands: Before touching your lenses or eyes, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then dry them with a lint-free towel.
• Use Fresh Solution: Always use fresh, sterile multi-purpose contact lens solution to clean, rinse, and store your lenses. Never use tap water, distilled water, or saliva, as these do not sterilize and can introduce harmful microorganisms.
• Rub and Rinse: Even if your solution is labeled "no-rub," gently rubbing your lenses with solution in the palm of your hand for 5-10 seconds before rinsing can significantly improve cleaning and disinfection.
• Clean Your Case: Rinse your contact lens case with fresh solution after each use and allow it to air dry upside down with the caps off. Replace your contact lens case every 1-3 months.

Storage and Replacement Schedule

• Store Properly: Always store your lenses in their designated case, fully submerged in fresh, sterile contact lens solution.
• Adhere to Replacement Schedule: Colored contacts for astigmatism come with specific replacement schedules (daily, bi-weekly, monthly). Never wear lenses beyond their recommended lifespan, as they can accumulate deposits, become less oxygen permeable, and increase infection risk.
• Check Expiry Dates: Pay attention to the expiry dates on