contacts versus eyeglasses prescription

Hello,

I recently went to an eye center to get contact lens and an eyeglass
prescription. The eyeglass prescription was:

RE: -2.50 +0.25 145 (sph/cyl/axis)
LE: -2.50 +1.25 020

However, when I went to get my contacts prescription, they gave me two
lenses with a different prescription. The left lens is a toric lens.
The right lens is non-toric. I noticed when looking at the exterior
packaging of the contact lens that the prescription for one of the lens
was -1.25 and the other was -2.25. Thus, I believe the non-toric lense
appears to be substantially weaker.

I noticed almost right way that vision through the right lens is fairly
blurry. However, they pushed me out the door without addressing this
issue, and they're rmaking it hard to reschedule, claiming that your
vision can be blurry to start with anyways. However, I find it hard to
believe that the difference between the eyeglass and contact lens
prescription could vary so greatly: -1.25 versus -2.50. Also, my eyes
do not seem to be watering or reacting to the lense.

Is it normal for there to be such a great difference? Should I push to
reschedule?

M

 

The toric lens would probably have five numbers on it. The -1.25 was
the sphere. Soft contact lenses are written using minus cylinders
making your prescription -1.25 -1.25 x 110. You did not see (or at
least mention in your post) the other numbers. Toric contact lenses
occasionally do not fit well on the initial fitting as they sometimes
do not rotate in the anticipated direction. After a week of wear it is
easier to tell if it is the right lens.

Ted

 

If you convert your prescription to minus cyl. format, it would read:-

R: -2.25/-0.25 X 55
L: -1.25/-1.25 X 110

You did not say what the cylindrical component was for the toric lens.

Leaving out the cylinders of the right lens should cause only very slight
bluring, Are you sure yo did not mix your lenses, that is Right on left and
left on right?

Go back to the Doc to sort it out.

Roland J. Izaac
optometrist

 

That is correct, although it is in fact THREE numbers, not five.

-2.25 for the eye that had a spectacle Rx of -2.50 is certainly
possible.

So, if those are the numbers on the packaging, then you're on the right
track.

Ted, it takes but a couple of hours, sometimes as little as a half hour
for the lens to settle and then be able generate a new lens power which
adjusts for the rotation. For a brand new lens wearers, I usually give
it two days *if the first lens is reasonably close* to what I expect.
For most folks, I like to have them back to re-check the powers later
the same day if possible. Things go better for patients, and me ;-)
when they get as close to immediate gratification as possible.

LB O.D.

 

Dear Larry:

Don't neglect the base curve and diameter of the lens. Not all
lenses specify these but you are incorrect, it is in fact FIVE numbers,
not three. Read the label.
Ted.