Is My Contact Lens Prescription Bad Enough To Actually Need Contact Lenses??

Question

Hi,

I just had an eye test a few days ago. The optician updated the prescription for my glasses and also recommended I get contact lenses... However, I'm not really sure my eyes are bad enough to need the added expense of contact lenses. Can someone please advise?

My prescription is:

Right Rx - Sphere: -0.50, Base Curve: 8.50,

Left Rx - Sphere: +0.00, Base Curve: 8.50, Cylinder: -1.00, Axis: 180.0

From what I know, I have an astigmatism in my left eye but can it really be bad enough to warrant contact lenses if the sphere is +0.00?? (I thought this was a good thing?)

Im worried that I have only been recommended the contact lenses so that I sign up to my optician's direct debit contact lens scheme.

Also, would the prescription for my glasses be the same as that of the contact lenses?

Thanks in advance, hope someone can shed some light!

Answer 1

There is no way that you NEED contacts.

That choice is entirely up to you.

With that correction in glasses you probably wouldn't wear them all the time anyway.

That is an Rx for glasses...the contact Rx would be a bit different....the left eye would probably be a - 0.75 instead of - 1.00

It's strange they marked the base curve like on a contact Rx...there are no contacts that come in a - 1.00 cyl that I know of.

You would need a toric lens in the left eye for the astigmatism. They are more expensive.

Unless you really want contacts  , the expense isn't worth it.

Answer 2

Usually with such a small prescription, the optometrist will leave the decision up to the patient.  If the patient can really tell a difference with the new prescripion, it's recommended that he or she get the glasses or contacts.  If you can get your optometrist to trial frame your prescription, that would help.  Basically the optometrist should put loose lenses in front of your eyes to show you how your prescription will be.  See if you can get your optometrist to do this for you.