How do I read my soft contact lenses
prescription?
A
contact lenses prescription is not the same
as an eyeglass (spectacles) prescription. In
addition to your lens power, your contact leness
prescription contains information relating the
size of the lens to your eye. You may also find
your prescription printed on the packing in
which your contact lenses were supplied.
A
typical contact lenses prescription looks like this :
Acuvue 2
| OD |
-
2.50 |
8.7 |
14.0 |
| OS |
-
2.00 |
8.7 |
14.0 |
OD
= Right Eye OS = Left Eye
Brand
Name must be included. E.g. (Acuvue, Surevue, Optima FW, etc.)
- POWER (sphere):
- The strength of your contact lenses which
is given as '+' or '-' with a numerical value
and a decimal point, such as '+2.5' or '-7.0'.
The '+' and the '-' are very important and
we need to know whether your fitting is '+'
or '-' when we order your lens for you. You
will find that the power for your right eye
(OD) may be different to the power for your
left eye (OS). Your contact lenses power is
not the same as that for your eyeglasses (spectacles).
- Bifocal
lens :
- An
Add Power usually from number +1.00
to +3.00.
BC:
The Base Curve which is the inside curve
of your contact lenses. This is a figure with
one decimal point, commonly 8.1 up to 8.9.
The figure is usually the same for both eyes.
DIA:
The Diameter of your contact lenses that
is recommended to fit your eye. This is a
figure with one decimal point such as 13.8,
14.0 or 14.5. The lens diameter fitted is
usually the same for both eyes.
If you have astigmatism, you will have been
fitted with a toric contact lens.
In addition to the above specification, toric
contact lenses wearers will have other figures
on their prescription. These are CYL (Cylinder)
and AXIS.
CYL (Cylinder):
Cylinder refers to the strength of you astigmatism.
The values are typically -0.75 up to -1.75.
Please note that the cylinder measurement
is given with a '-' sign.
AXIS:
Axis refers to the location of your astigmatism.
This measurement is given in degrees (º).
The values of AXIS may range from 10º
up to 180º.
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