Toric Lens for Astigmatism
An implanted lens that corrects astigmatism too — fitted during cataract surgery, and set to an angle measured beforehand.
- A version of any lens type, not a type of its own
- Removing the cataract alone does not correct astigmatism
- Whether you need one is measured, not chosen
Camden (Orchard)Joo ChiatClementiBedokToa PayohJurong
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What a toric lens is
A toric lens is an intraocular lens, implanted during cataract surgery, that corrects astigmatism at the same time as replacing the clouded lens. It is not a contact lens.
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The lens sits inside the eye, where the natural lens was — not on its surface
Toric describes the correction built into the lens, not how many distances it focuses at. So it is a version of a lens rather than a type of lens: you choose monofocal, extended depth of focus or multifocal first, and whether that lens should be a toric one is a separate question, answered from your measurements.
Everything else about the surgery itself is unchanged. See all the lens options
Why the cataract operation alone leaves astigmatism
Astigmatism blurs things at every distance. Most of it comes from the cornea — the clear front of the eye — curving more steeply in one direction than the other.
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Flatter across one direction
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Steeper across the other
The two directions focus in different places, so there is no single point of focus. That is a property of the cornea, not of the lens behind it — which is why taking the cataract out and putting a plain lens in leaves the blur where it was.
A toric lens carries the opposite correction along one direction, cancelling it.
Not sure whether you have astigmatism? Talk to our friendly staff and we will arrange an examination — it is measured before surgery, not guessed.
How the angle is set, and what happens if it moves
Because the correction works along one direction only, a toric lens has to sit at the right angle. The angle is measured before surgery, and small marks near the lens edge show the surgeon which way to turn it.
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Standard lens
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Toric lens, with its alignment marks
Occasionally a toric lens rotates out of line in the first weeks. It then corrects less than it should, and vision is blurrier than expected rather than painful.
It can be turned back in a further short procedure, so tell us if your vision was good and then became less sharp.
A toric version of each lens type
The type decides how many distances you see clearly. Toric decides whether the astigmatism is corrected as well. The two questions are answered separately.
- Toric monofocal
- One distance in focus, with the astigmatism corrected as well. The commonest toric lens, and the one most people with astigmatism end up discussing.
- Toric extended depth of focus
- A stretched range rather than a single point, astigmatism corrected. Small print generally still needs glasses.
- Toric multifocal
- Distance and near, astigmatism corrected. The design is already dividing light, so uncorrected astigmatism would blur every focal point it makes.
So a toric lens is not a step up from a monofocal lens or a step down from a multifocal one. It is the same decision about focus, with astigmatism dealt with at the same time.
Whether you need one
It is measured, not chosen. How much astigmatism you have, and along which direction, is part of the scan that sets your lens power before surgery.
- A small amount
- Often left alone — correcting it would make little difference to what you notice.
- A larger amount
- Where a toric lens changes the result.
There is a second way of treating it: small incisions placed in the cornea during the operation, instead of or alongside a toric lens. Which suits you is a question for your surgeon. How laser assistance works
Where it sits in the cost of surgery
A toric version costs more than a plain version of the same lens. It is the same operation and the same visit; the difference is the lens itself and the extra measurement behind it.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Cataract surgery · per eye | |
| Cataract surgery by senior eye surgeons | $5,200–12,000 |
| MediSave withdrawal limit | up to $3,280 |
| With a Senior Eye Specialist · Camden (Orchard) and Parkway East (Joo Chiat) | |
| First consultation | $174.40 |
| Follow-up consultation | $119.90 |
| With a Senior Eye Specialist · Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong | |
| First consultation | $130.80 |
| Follow-up consultation | $98.10 |
| With a Primary Eye Care Doctor · Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong | |
| First consultation | $76.30 |
| Follow-up consultation | $54.50 |
Surgery figures are per eye at The Straits Eye Centre, before MediSave. Withdrawal limit subject to approval by the CPF Board. All fees shown are nett.
The lens is the largest single thing that moves the surgery figure. Laser assistance and your insurance status move it as well. All surgeries are done by senior surgeons regardless.
You can see what else moves the price before you come in.
Who performs it
All our senior consultant eye surgeons have more than 60 years of experience in ophthalmology between them. Talk to us for a quick appointment.
10,000+
cataract operations, between our senior consultant eye surgeons.
99%+
cataract surgery success rate at The Straits Eye Centre.
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Dr Jayant V Iyer
Senior Consultant & Medical Director
The Straits Eye CentreMBBS · GDFM · MMed (Ophth) · FRCOphth · FAMS
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Dr Jason Lee
Senior Consultant & Medical Director
The Straits Eye CentreMBBS · BMedSc · MMed (Ophth) · FRCOphth · FAMS
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Dr Audrey Pang
Senior Consultant Eye Surgeon
The Straits Eye CentreMBBChir (Cambridge) · MMed (Singapore) · FRCOphth (London) · FAMS
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Dr Laurence Lim
Senior Consultant Eye Specialist and Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon
The Straits Eye CentreMBBS (S’pore) · MRCS (Edin) · FRCS (Edin) · FAMS
Have your astigmatism measured
Send us a message and we will arrange an examination. Whether a toric lens would help is answered from the measurements, not over the phone.
Common questions
What is a toric lens?
A version of a lens that also corrects astigmatism, where the cornea curves more steeply in one direction than the other, so light comes to more than one focus instead of one. Monofocal, extended depth of focus and multifocal lenses are all available in toric versions. Whether you need one is measured before surgery.
Will cataract surgery correct my astigmatism?
Not on its own. Most astigmatism comes from the cornea, and removing the cataract does not correct it. It is corrected with a toric lens or with incisions in the cornea during the operation, and whether yours needs either is measured before surgery.
Is a toric lens monofocal or multifocal?
It can be either. Toric describes the astigmatism correction built into a lens, not how many distances the lens focuses at, so there are toric monofocal, toric extended depth of focus and toric multifocal lenses. You choose the type first and the toric question is answered separately, from your measurements.
Can I have a toric lens in one eye only?
Yes. Astigmatism is measured in each eye separately and the two are often different, so it is quite usual for one eye to need a toric lens and the other not.
What happens if a toric lens rotates?
The correction works along one direction, so a lens that has turned out of line corrects less than it should and vision is blurrier than expected. It happens occasionally in the first weeks, and it is treated by turning the lens back in a further short procedure. Tell us if vision was good and then became less sharp.
Does a toric lens correct all astigmatism?
It corrects regular astigmatism, where the cornea is steeper along one direction and flatter along the one at right angles to it. Irregular astigmatism, where the surface is uneven rather than evenly oval, is generally not corrected by a toric lens, and that is one of the findings measured before surgery.
Does a toric lens change the cost of surgery?
A toric version costs more than a plain version of the same lens, and the lens is the largest single thing that moves the figure for cataract surgery at The Straits Eye Centre. Whether laser assistance is used and your insurance status move it as well.