How to Read Your Contact Lens Prescription (With Visuals)

Ever looked at your contact lens prescription and wondered what all those numbers and abbreviations mean? You're not alone. Contact lens prescriptions can look confusing at first, especially if you're new to wearing contact lenses. But once you know how to read each line, it becomes much easier to shop confidently.

This guide will walk you through how to read your contact lens prescription, what each term means, and how to make sure you're ordering the right lenses for your eyes.

Why Contact Lens Prescriptions Are Different from Glasses

You can't use a glasses prescription to order contact lenses. That's because glasses sit a few millimeters away from your eyes, while contact lenses rest directly on the eye's surface. The fit and measurements must be more precise, especially for daily contact lenses, which are thinner and designed for all-day comfort.

A contact lens prescription includes not just the correction power, but also specific measurements that affect how the lens fits your eye. That's why your optometrist performs a separate fitting for contacts, even if you already have a prescription for glasses.

What Each Line on Your Contact Lens Prescription Means

Here's a quick breakdown of the most common elements you'll see on your contact lens prescription:

OD and OS

These stand for oculus dexter (right eye) and oculus sinister (left eye). You'll have separate values for each eye.

Power (or SPH)

This indicates the lens strength needed to correct nearsightedness (negative numbers) or farsightedness (positive numbers).

BC (Base Curve)

Measured in millimeters, this tells how curved the back of your contact lens should be to match the shape of your eye.

DIA (Diameter)

The diameter shows how wide the lens is from edge to edge. This ensures proper coverage and comfort.

Brand or Product

Some prescriptions will include a specific lens brand. This happens when your eye doctor determines that only certain lenses are approved for your eye shape and health.

These are the basics that apply to most standard contact lens prescriptions, including for daily disposable lenses.

Understanding Additional Prescription Terms

Some prescriptions contain extra fields, especially if you wear specialized lenses. Here's what those mean:

• CYL (Cylinder): This is used for correcting astigmatism. It measures the degree of distortion caused by an uneven cornea.
• Axis: Also related to astigmatism, this value (between 1 and 180) indicates the orientation of the cylinder correction.
• ADD: If you need multifocal lenses for presbyopia, this value adds power to help you see clearly at close range.

These extra details are important when ordering toric or multifocal contact lenses online.

Choosing Daily Contact Lenses Based on Your Prescription

Daily contact lenses are a great option for comfort, convenience, and hygiene. If your prescription includes all the standard measurements, plus your lens brand, you're ready to shop.

For example, if your prescription says:

• OD: -2.50 / BC: 8.5 / DIA: 14.2 / Brand: Acuvue Oasys 1-Day

You'll look for that exact combination when shopping for daily contact lenses online. Make sure to order one box per eye unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

What If Your Prescription Includes a Brand Name?

If your prescription includes a specific brand, it's important to stick with it. Your optometrist has selected that brand because it fits your eye correctly and provides the right level of oxygen flow, comfort, and visual clarity.

You can't substitute one brand for another without a new fitting, even if the numbers look similar. That's especially true for daily contact lenses, where fit and material vary widely between brands.

How to Upload or Verify Your Prescription Online

Buying contact lenses online is easy once you have your prescription. At WebEyeCare, you can:

1. Upload your prescription directly during checkout.
2. Have us contact your eye doctor to verify it for you.
3. Use a valid written copy from your optometrist if it's less than 12 months old (some states allow up to 24 months).

Once verified, your lenses ship directly to your door—no need to leave home to get the comfort and clarity you need.

See Your Prescription Clearly with WebEyeCare

Understanding your contact lens prescription makes it easier to shop smart and avoid costly mistakes. Whether you're ordering for the first time or switching to daily contact lenses, knowing what each number means helps ensure a perfect fit. At WebEyeCare, we make the process simple: just upload your prescription and explore a wide range of top brands at affordable prices. Find your perfect lenses and enjoy fast, reliable delivery every time.