Anyone understand contact lenses, and the numbers?
Discussion
I wear glasses. No issues.
Wore contact lenses about 6 years ago, just drifted away from them. Want them again.
Optician says I need toric lenses for an astigmatism eye. (Never had this in the past, but apparently the eye can change shape over the years).
The astig lenses (tried two brands) and uncomfortable. Feels like an eyelash in them at all times. Cant manage more than an hour. Optician says they cant give me a normal lense to the same power as an astig lens, so they need to give me a lense which is a different power.
So I have the choice of good vision but discomfort with the astig lens, or comfort with a normal lense but poor vision (which in turn gives me a headache). Is this really right?
The astig lens is -1.00 / -0.75 x 20 This is fine for vision but horrible to wear.
The none astig lens she gave me just says -1.25.
I also found a set of my old lenses from years ago which are just -1.50 which dont feel too bad to be honest, but im uncertain.
If neither of these are right (either uncomfortable or blurry) does this mean I can now never use contacts again? Why cant I just get a normal comfortable lense, corrected to -1.00? This is really pissing me off now, because I never had these problems years ago.
Wore contact lenses about 6 years ago, just drifted away from them. Want them again.
Optician says I need toric lenses for an astigmatism eye. (Never had this in the past, but apparently the eye can change shape over the years).
The astig lenses (tried two brands) and uncomfortable. Feels like an eyelash in them at all times. Cant manage more than an hour. Optician says they cant give me a normal lense to the same power as an astig lens, so they need to give me a lense which is a different power.
So I have the choice of good vision but discomfort with the astig lens, or comfort with a normal lense but poor vision (which in turn gives me a headache). Is this really right?
The astig lens is -1.00 / -0.75 x 20 This is fine for vision but horrible to wear.
The none astig lens she gave me just says -1.25.
I also found a set of my old lenses from years ago which are just -1.50 which dont feel too bad to be honest, but im uncertain.
If neither of these are right (either uncomfortable or blurry) does this mean I can now never use contacts again? Why cant I just get a normal comfortable lense, corrected to -1.00? This is really pissing me off now, because I never had these problems years ago.
Edited by un1corn on Tuesday 11th April 01:11
I'm the same, I have an astigmatism in one my eyes. I just went to Specsavers and hada free trial for contacts and got them to write down the prescription on a card when I was there.
I wear glasses pretty much all the time but for physical activity as I do a lot of skiing I use contacts. The brand I use is 1 day acuvue moist for astigmatism. Very rarely do I get a problem with itchy eyes. Are you sure you're putting them in correctly?
I wear glasses pretty much all the time but for physical activity as I do a lot of skiing I use contacts. The brand I use is 1 day acuvue moist for astigmatism. Very rarely do I get a problem with itchy eyes. Are you sure you're putting them in correctly?
I use Acuvue Oasys which are available in both standard & toric versions & find them very comfortable. The only time they hurt is if i put one in when it's inside out.
Do you know the brands you tried? There's no reason why the correction in each eye should be the same so it's quite normal to have different prescriptions.
The numbers are fairly straightforward; for the standard lens the -1.25 figure is the strength of the lens in dioptres - yours is quite a mild prescription (I'm -7.50 & blind as a bat). For the toric version a prescription of -1.00/-0.75x20 means a lens with overall correction of -1.00 dioptres with additional correction of -0.75 dioptres at an angle of 20 degrees. You can see each of these elements in the ordering section on this website.
https://www.lenstore.co.uk/acuvue/toric-lenses/acu...
If you scroll down this page a bit there's a link for a free trial of Oasys lenses if your optician won't get you a trial pair. If they won't I suggest a new optician.
Do you know the brands you tried? There's no reason why the correction in each eye should be the same so it's quite normal to have different prescriptions.
The numbers are fairly straightforward; for the standard lens the -1.25 figure is the strength of the lens in dioptres - yours is quite a mild prescription (I'm -7.50 & blind as a bat). For the toric version a prescription of -1.00/-0.75x20 means a lens with overall correction of -1.00 dioptres with additional correction of -0.75 dioptres at an angle of 20 degrees. You can see each of these elements in the ordering section on this website.
https://www.lenstore.co.uk/acuvue/toric-lenses/acu...
If you scroll down this page a bit there's a link for a free trial of Oasys lenses if your optician won't get you a trial pair. If they won't I suggest a new optician.
I use Acuvue Oasys 2 weekly's and been trialling daily Acuvue moist multifocals, which are very comfortable when inserted. I'll be picking up some new trial lenses on Thursday as the optometrist wants to tweak the prescription, one of which will correct slight astigmatism so as to help improve distance vision.
As mentioned are you inserting them the right way around? Place the lens on the tip of your index finger. When the correct way, viewed from the side, there should be a distinct curve to the lens edge.
To see what it looks like the incorrect way, carefully invert the lens and place back on an index finger. You should notice the edges of the lens are distinctly less curved, and almost straight. Inserted this way, noticeably less comfortable!
There's always the possibility that your optician is for some reason failing to produce the optimal prescription for your eyes and lenses!
As mentioned are you inserting them the right way around? Place the lens on the tip of your index finger. When the correct way, viewed from the side, there should be a distinct curve to the lens edge.
To see what it looks like the incorrect way, carefully invert the lens and place back on an index finger. You should notice the edges of the lens are distinctly less curved, and almost straight. Inserted this way, noticeably less comfortable!
There's always the possibility that your optician is for some reason failing to produce the optimal prescription for your eyes and lenses!
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff