Should my contact and glasses prescription be different?

The answer is no. While they both have the same objective — to correct what eye doctors call “refractive errors” that prevent you from seeing correctly — prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses are distinctly different.

Can you use the same prescription for glasses and contacts?

Can I use my glasses prescription for contacts? Contact lens and glasses prescriptions are not the same. A contact lens must match the size and shape of your eye. Therefore, a prescription for contact lenses contains information like base curve and diameter, as well as brand.

How do I translate my glasses prescription to contacts?

No – you cannot directly convert a glasses prescription to a contact lens prescription. Equally, you cannot convert a contact lens prescription to a glasses prescription.

How do I know if my contacts are too strong?

1) Blurred Vision Stare straight ahead with the other eye. Is your vision hazy or blurred? Repeat with the other eye. A cloudy or blurred vision in one eye, while the other is closed is a sure sign that the power of your glasses or lenses is incorrect.

What are astigmatism contacts?

Contact lenses for astigmatism are specially designed to correct the visual effects of astigmatism — a common refractive error caused by a misshapen cornea. In today’s modern contact lens market, people with astigmatism have more options than ever.

How are glasses prescriptions measured?

Eyeglass strength is measured in diopters. If your prescription reads -1.00, that means your eyeglasses need 1 diopter of strength to correct nearsightedness. If your prescription reads +2.50, your eyeglasses need 2.5 diopters of strength to correct farsightedness.

Is right eye OD or OS?

In fact, the first things you’ll notice on your prescription are abbreviations for two Latin terms in the column labeled “Rx.” Oculus dexter (O.D.) translates to “right eye,” while oculus sinister means “left eye.” Your optometrist uses these terms to note the prescription for each eye.

Why is the power of contact lenses less than glasses?

Therefore, in our example, the power of a contact lens will be less than the eyeglass prescription for the right eye. A GP lens automatically corrects the astigmatism of the surface of the cornea by molding it into a spherical shape. So a GP lens power will typically be close to the spherical correction of the glasses prescription.

What do the letters mean in contact lens prescriptions?

Regular Prescriptions. Below are the definitions of the symbols/abbreviations used in a typical contact lens prescription: Eye – Which eyes the prescription line item is for. OS – Left Eye. OD – Right Eye. OU – Both Eyes. BC – Base Curve (usually a number between 8 and 10) DIA – Diameter (usually a number between 13 and 15)

What is the prescription for toric soft contact lenses?

Because the spherical correction for the right eye is 4D or greater, and because toric soft lenses are typically available in 0.25 diopter increments, the contact lens prescription may be closer to -4.25 – 1.25 x 180. The exact prescription can be determined only with diagnostic lens fitting by an eye care professional.

How do I Convert my Prescription to contact lenses?

Any prescription over -3.50 to -4 diopter, and add +0.25 diopters for every two diopters of increase: So a -4.00 glasses prescription is roughly equal to a -3.75 contact lens prescription. Some advise starting conversion at -3.50.