"My Doctor said I have astigmatism and can't wear contact lenses" - True or False?

Astigmatism can be corrected with both soft lenses or rigid lenses (Gas Permeable).

Small amounts of astigmatism (< 1.00D) can often be ignored with soft lenses - most people will experience vision only slightly less clear than their glasses. However if you want that corrected there are now lenses capable of that - even daily ones. Focus Dailies Torics can correct up to 1.50D of astigmatism easily and may be just what you need to sharpen up your vision.

For greater amounts of astigmatism (greater than 1.00D, but less than 2.00D) the astigmatism will often be corrected with either a standard Gas Permeable lens, which are very effective at correcting astigmatism , or by using a special soft lens called a Soft Toric lens. Without this correction the vision can be quite blurred. These lenses are often replaced on a monthly cycle.

For astigmatism over 2.00D, the astigmatism would definitely need correcting with a soft toric or possibly toric gas permeable lens.

Soft toric lenses have the extra astigmatism power 'worked on' the lens so that it corrects your astigmatism like glasses would.

"So why does my Optician say no?"

There are some disadvantages to soft toric lenses. Your astigmatic power has to be worked onto the soft lens and maintained at a certain angle - the lens cannot be allowed to spin around like an ordinary soft  lens could - in order to properly correct your vision. At the same time any soft lens has to be able to move a little in order to allow tears and waste to move out from under the lens. This necessary movement of the lens can cause the vision to blur slightly. The greater the degree of astigmatism, the more noticeable this effect can be.

This effect can be annoying, for example,  when you are operating a VDU. However, millions of people wear then successfully for social use, driving and sport and are very happy with the level of vision that they obtain.

The other disadvantage is that soft toric lenses are generally more expensive than standard soft lenses - roughly twice as expensive, and take more time with the Optician in initial fitting.

In conclusion - the pros and cons will have to be weighed up carefully with your Optician. He will discuss with you what you want them for, your lifestyle and take into consideration your amount of astigmatism and other clinical information. Only then can you decide, in conjunction with your Doctor,  if you should proceed or not.

Further Information:

What is Astigmatism?

What are Toric Lenses?