Having an astigmatism used to mean that the only type of lenses you could wear were hard, scratchy gas permeable lenses. Not only were these lenses one of the most uncomfortable contacts of their time, they were associated with infection and retinal scrapes on a regular basis. They required diligent and methodical care, and felt more like a job than a convenience for patients that they were prescribed to.

Thankfully, the science of eye care has improved by leaps and bounds, and astigmatism patients no longer suffer at the mercy of one choice for their contacts. As contact lens technology improved, those who suffered from astigmatism had different options in selecting a lens that was more flexible and more comfortable to wear. The new offerings in lenses are significantly different than those of the stone age.

One specific type of lens that is now available through this new technology was the Biomedics Toric lens. These lenses were soft, flexible, and disposable, things that were unheard of in the days that gas permeable lenses reigned supreme. Biomedics Toric lenses and their counterparts, Fequency 55 Toric, were a breath of fresh air to astigmatism patients worldwide. The advent of these lenses was a much needed and much welcomed change to the cumbersome maintenance and cleaning routines that gas permeable wearers were used to.

The innovate solutions provider that created this much welcomed elucidation was Ocular Sciences Corporation, based out of San Francisco. Ocular Sciences is dedicated to creating state of the art contact lens solutions to help people see better, no matter what their diagnosis. Not only did they create the Biomedics Toric lens, but were also the innovative solutions provider that gave us bifocal contact lenses, and today, even trifocal contact lens solutions.

Ocular Sciences has created over 800 contacts solutions products for numerous types of vision disorders since they started over a decade ago. Ocular Sciences has been acquired by Coopervision and both Biomedics Toric and Frequency 55 Toric are now among many other products that Coopervision offers. They are continuing to develop even more sophisticated contact lens products on a daily basis throughout their global facilities. However, their current product line offers easy to wear and comfortable solutions for almost any malady.

Astigmatism sufferers can expect more comfortable, longer lasting and lighter lenses as technology improves. Hyperopic and myopic sufferers can expect increasingly better lenses and additional product lines over the next five years. Even those patients needing bifocals or trifocals will also find contact lens solutions created and improved especially for them. So, to all of those contact lens wearers out there, here's looking at you.