what type of contact lenses do i need if my prescription is...?

Question

ok i got a prescription from my optometrist with the prescription:
sphere cylinder axis
OD: -6.75 -0.25 160
OS: -7.50 -1.00 170

do i really need astigmatism lenses or toric lenses or can i just get regular. i have gone to two different opticians for an estimate on how much the contacts would cost and both told me different things. one said i need lenses for astigmatism and the other said i dont need lenses for astigmatism. i dont know what to do so what do u recommend?

Answer 1

The right lens is clearly going to be a sphere.
Probably -6.50, possibly -6.25, depending on the vertex distance that the spectacle Rx was done at. The final Rx should be assessed over trial contacts of approximately the right prescription.

The case of the left eye is not so easy. If it's your non-dominant eye, or has poorer best acuity, you'd be saving money and losing little vision to have a -7.50 sphere lens (or thereabouts).

But if it's your best eye, with good VA, or you are sensitive to small changes in Rx, then that dioptre of cylinder is going to be essential, and so will be a toric contact lens.

I'm a bit worried about the two opticians. If this was anything more than a quick chat, rather than *telling* you one way or the other, they should have been able and prepared to *show* you the difference, leaving you with practical knowledge enabling you to decide for yourself.
Certainly this should happen if you have a fitting appointment.
If it was only a quick chat they should not have committed themselves.

My opinion, anyway.

Answer 2

Aline is dead on -- Most Rx's , yes.. Some severe forms of astigmatism no.. as a different form of contact that cannot be 'colored' will be used.

Answer 3

Put in a -6.00 and a -6.50 and see how that goes.

Answer 4

-1.00