Are Contact Lens Prescriptions Different from Spectacle Ones?
August 25th, 2010 | See the Top Answers to this Question Below
I recently started wearing toric contact lenses for after wearing spectacles for 24 years. I have noticed that my contact lens power (both spherical and cylindrical) are lesser than my spectacle power. My vision using contact lenses is blurry. Can I use the same prescription for contacts as well as spectacles?
Spectacle power: SPH: -7.00, CYL: -2.00, Axis: 180 (both eyes)
Contact Power: SPH: -6.50, CYL: -1.75, Axis: 180 (both eyes)
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Posted in Contact Lenses | 
Tags: 24 years, axis, contact lens, contact power, spectacle power, spectacles, toric contact lenses
Contacts sit closer to your eye than your glasses. This means that they have to use a different power for your contacts than for your glasses to compensate for what we call vertex distance. In your case it would be a smaller minus number for your contacts. Toric lenses are very tricky to fit and some doctors are better at it than others. But, in my experience I have very few toric lens wearers that see as well out of their contacts as they do with their glasses. Contact lens prescriptions also consist of other measurements that are very important for how they fit on your eye, and the axis might be different or the same depending on how your contact lens floats on your tear layer. they also would have a baxe curve, a diameter and a brand that you would have to have so, using your glasses Rx for your contacts just does not work becuase they just are not the same thing. It is kind of like using a ball point pen as a paint brush. I know it sounds silly, but it is the truth. This is something that is tricky for trained people to even attempt, I have been an optician for over 28 years, and I have worn contacts for over 25 years and I would NEVER try to fit my own contacts or change my own powers without the Doctor doing it for me. So, my advice would be to consult your prescribing doctor and they can tell you if it is something that just needs fine tuning, or if this is as good as it gets with your prescription.
Ask your optometrist
Yes, you can.
sometimes your prescription for your contacts wont come in the same strength prescription as the glasses. i remember my optom telling me some confusing reason for this. possibly something along the lines of making you feel drunk …?
i was always told that i would never wear contact lenses that made my vision as good as wearing glasses – i eventually disliked both options and chose to get lasik surgery =D its amazing ! was expensive but totally worth it.