Contact lenses and non-matching prescriptions

[JoanneDoubleG]

Hi everyone, hoping there is someone who can give me a bit of guidance on contact lenses.

I went to buy some online since I had a new prescription from the opticians. I have a problem in that the numbers I require for sphere, cyl, axis etc. aren't an option on the lenses.

any thoughts? should i go higher/lower or just avoid?

TIA

I think you should get what your prescription states. If you go lower you could end up with eye strain or headaches, if you go higher you risk affecting your eyes-I'm no expert but I am 'clinically' blind with a -10 prescription and my gut feeling is you could make your eyes lazy and over time they'd deteriorate. I've had slightly off prescriptions in the past, when tests were less accurate, and it takes months to feel quite right, if at all.

My contact lens prescription is a little different to my actual prescription. I used to order online but realised it isn’t any cheaper. I use Specsavers and have an annual contact lens check. With the service I also get free glasses.

I always order through my optician as my prescription is very high/rate such that only a few manufacturers will make them. I can’t order mine online from the usual sellers as they do not carry them (I’ve checked). They have to be special ordered by an optician. So I’d recommend you have your optician help you source the correct lenses for you.

I only ever got the right distance(?) number

So I am -1.25. I never bothered filling in the other information and mine have always been fine

Are you definitely looking at the same ones (as in brand and type) as your optician has prescribed? I know with mine it's quite confusing as there are lots with similar names.

Sounds like you are attempting to guess your CL prescription from your glasses prescription. They are two different beasts.

Have you had lenses before? Is it a prescription for your contact lenses or your glasses because as has already been said, it will be different. Generally if it's a particularly high cyl you will need a different type of lens (cyl relates to the actual shape of your eye).
Please consider going to an optician, they will fit them, give you a free trial usually and someone will teach you how to put them in and how to clean them properly.

@Spamfrit

Sounds like you are attempting to guess your CL prescription from your glasses prescription. They are two different beasts.

Ha, this sounds like it might be the issue, yes that's exactly what I was doing.

@Tomcullenisahero

Have you had lenses before? Is it a prescription for your contact lenses or your glasses because as has already been said, it will be different. Generally if it's a particularly high cyl you will need a different type of lens (cyl relates to the actual shape of your eye). Please consider going to an optician, they will fit them, give you a free trial usually and someone will teach you how to put them in and how to clean them properly.

Yes, I think this makes the most sense. Stupidly it would appear, I assumed the prescriptions were the same for both.

Thanks for commenting.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment, this community is amazing!!!

I thought I was being smart buying online but I think a trip back to Boots is in order.

Ah yes, they differ quite a bit. I am -12 in glasses and -10 in contacts, plus you need the right fit and eye health checks. The optician will sort you out.

having been through countless options of prescription to get a pair of contact lenses that I have half decent vision in (still nowhere as good as it is in my glasses) I would only buy exactly what it says on the prescription!