Comprehending the Right Meaning of Your Contact Lens Prescription
A lot of people around the world have weak eyes and have to go to the optician every few months for regular check-ups. Many of them do not even like wearing glasses. The introduction of contact lenses, therefore, was a bane for many. Life became easier and better with the help of these.
In case you are among the ones who wear contact lenses, then this article is just right for you. You must be able to comprehend the right meaning of your contact lens prescription.
Meaning of certain Abbreviations
You must have noticed the use of several abbreviations in prescriptions. Ever wondered what do they mean? Let’s get to know today what they stand for…
- OD- OD or Oculus Dexter is a Latin term for the right eye.
- OS- Oculus Sinister or OS is a word from the Latin language meaning the left eye.
- BC- The back curvature of the contact lens, measured in millimetres, is called as Base Curve or BC. The base curve must match the curve of the cornea so that the lens gets fitted properly in the eye. Usually, BC is between 8 and 10.
- DIA-The distance, measured in millimetres, across the surface of the lens is referred to as Diameter or DIA. It decides where the contact lens sits on a person’s eye and is generally a number between 13 and 15.
- NV and DV- They respectively stand for Near Vision and Distance Vision. They are the ones that tell if a correction is required. Multifocal lenses are needed if both of them have numbers.
- SPH- Also known as Power or PWR, the Sphere states the strength of the lens required. There are two types of lenses in this category – Myopic that isnearsighted and ranges from -20.00 to -0.05, and Hyperopic that is farsighted lenses and ranges from +0.05 to +20.00.
Which One – Bifocal or Multifocal?
Any lens that is either multifocal or bifocal contains prescriptions with additional numbers. The abbreviations used for these are:
- ADD- It is also called as Extra Strength or Add Power.
- Dominant-The dominant and non-dominant eye determine the correction of the lens in the case of a multifocal or bifocal lens. D is used for the Dominant eye, whereas N for Non-Dominant.
Willing to Buy Contact Lenses Without Prescription?
There are a lot of places where you will not be given a pair of contact lenses without a prescription. However, you may still get them at contactlenses4us.com. Even without a prescription, this website offers a range of various affordable contact lenses. You may choose according to your own convenience.
Although opticians can be found easily around us, it is crucial for us to be able to read the prescription. Since it is about a part of our body, we should understand its meaning.