Prescription Glasses and Contacts: How Do They Differ?

Whether you are wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, you know for a fact that these corrective devices help you see clearly. If you are wearing both, you probably might be wondering if either prescription given to you by your eye doctor is interchangeable. Six One Six Vision Center discusses further below.

Short Answer: They’re Not the Same

As it turns out, prescriptions for both eyeglasses and contact lenses are different from each other. For one, lenses for eyeglasses are positioned about 12 millimeters from your eyes, while contact lenses are directly placed on the surface of your eyes.

Both prescriptions contain vital information like lens power required to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Depending on the degree of the refractive error and the type of contacts prescribed, the power indicated in your contact lenses prescription may be different than those for your eyeglasses. Also, contacts are made to fit the size and shape of your eye, which means specifications such as lens curvature and width won’t be present in a glasses prescription.

Information Found in Both Prescriptions

You can find the following in both eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions:

• SPH – The term “sphere” represents the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D).
• OD and OS – These are abbreviations for the Latin terms “oculus dexter,” referring to the right eye, and “oculus sinister,” referring to the left eye.
• Expiration Date – Lenses for both eyeglasses and contact lenses are valid for one year from the prescription date.

Whether you already wear eyeglasses or feel that you need an exam for blurry vision, get in touch with the esteemed optometrist of Six One Six Vision Center today! We carry frames from several independent designers, as well as a variety of contact lens options. Call (208) 514-1858 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment. We serve residents of Eagle and Meridian, Idaho.