Which type of lenses will patients with astigmatism require?

Patients with astigmatism typically require toric lenses. Astigmatism is a common refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, leading to blurred vision. Toric lenses are specifically designed to correct this condition by having different powers in different meridians of the lens, accommodating the varying curvature of the eye. This allows for more precise focusing of light onto the retina, thereby improving visual clarity.

Spherical lenses are primarily for correcting myopia and hyperopia, which focus light evenly across the lens, and are not suitable for astigmatism, where uneven curvature needs to be addressed. Multifocal lenses cater to both near and distance vision, which is important for presbyopic patients but does not directly address the specific need for correcting astigmatism. Daily disposables refer to the wearing schedule of contact lenses rather than the corrective nature of the lenses themselves; they can be toric but are not exclusively for astigmatism. Therefore, toric lenses are the appropriate choice for patients with astigmatism due to their specialized design.