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Can I use my contact prescription for glasses?
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.
How do I convert 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.
Should my glasses prescription be stronger than my contacts?
No, this is a misunderstanding of how contacts and glasses work. The ‘strength’ of the prescription is dependent on the eye’s ability to focus an image on the retina. Contact lenses sit on the eye, closer by about 12mm to the retina than a pair of glasses.
How do I know my contact lens prescription?
Your prescription details can be found on the side of your contact lens box. If you don’t have your box, we’re happy to contact your eye care provider to get a copy of your prescription for you.
Why do I see better with glasses than contacts?
For starters, although they have the same strength and focusing power, contacts are much closer to the eye than glasses. This means they bend light in a way that more accurately meets your prescription, and so if you switch from glasses to contacts they can appear to slightly increase your visual acuity.
What contact prescription is legally blind?
A contact prescription of -6.50 does not mean you are legally blind if your vision improves from 20/200 with them in. However, if you still have 20/200 eyesight or worse after putting contacts in, you are considered legally blind.
How can I find out my glasses prescription?
However, you have to do a little algebra to figure the total power needed for single-vision reading glasses. In the example above, it is -2.00 +1.75 = -0.25. So the prescription for reading glasses for the right eye would be -0.25 – 0.50 x 180. For the left eye, the calculation is +1.75 +1.00 = +2.75 D.S.
Why do I see better with my glasses than contacts?
Are contact lenses weaker than glasses?
Since eyeglasses are usually about 12 millimeters from the eye, the prescriptive power of a contact lens — which is positioned directly on the tear film of the eye — will be slightly less nearsighted. Therefore, in our example, the power of a contact lens will be less than the eyeglass prescription for the right eye.
What does contact prescription mean?
A contact lens prescription provides additional information about the size of the lens (not just information about the power.) You may have a different prescription for each eye, or even need a Toric or Multi-focal lens in one eye and not the other, or require a different brand for each eye.
What does D mean on contacts?
diopters
Sphere (SPH): The amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), which corrects nearsightedness or farsightedness. If the number under this heading features a minus sign (–), this means you’re nearsighted; if it has a plus sign (+), this means you’re farsighted.
Can you switch back and forth between contacts and glasses?
You can absolutely own both glasses and contacts, and switch between them as you see fit based on your work, comfort or lifestyle needs on a given day.
Should I get contact lenses instead of glasses?
A lot of patients ask if they can get contacts that would let them get rid of their reading glasses. For most people the answer is yes! Lenses like the Purevision Multifocal and the Air Optix Multifocal offer great vision in a very healthy lens material. And here’s another suggestion: some patients who naturally have good distance vision use just one contact lens for near vision.
Do contact lens need a prescription?
No, under U.S. law the purchase of all contact lenses requires a valid contact lens prescription written by a qualified eye care practitioner. This includes plano, or “non-prescription,” colored contact lenses or special-effect lenses that are worn for cosmetic purposes only.
Can you buy contact lenses without a prescription?
To purchase Contact Lenses from a U.S. based contact lens supplier or company you will need a valid prescription. Essentially, due to the “Contact Lens Rule”, Contact lenses are classified as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and cannot be bought legally in the United States without a valid prescription.
Are contact lenses more expensive than glasses?
Contacts are generally more expensive than glasses, mostly because they need to be replaced more often. However, the difference in cost between the two isn’t that large. However, depending on the frames you choose (designer vs. basic), glasses can end up costing more than contacts.