Question
Hi!
I'm 24, I recently was fitted for contact lenses by an optometrist and was given some toric trial lenses in this prescription:
Left Eye: -5.00 -2.75 x170
Right Eye: -5.75 -1.75 x20
The vision in my right eye has improved from my old prescription but the left has not. In fact, it is worse and harder to focus with that eye. My old prescription works better, although it is still not as clear as it could be. My old prescription was:
Left Eye: -5.25 -1.75 x160
Right Eye: -5.50 -1.25 x20
I have an appointment in a week to discuss this but I am curious at the moment to know why the prescription for my left eye didn't work out. I'm trying to learn a bit more about what these numbers mean (better to be informed, right?). Which change in these numbers has made the vision in my left eye more blurry? Do you think he made a fairly accurate guess?
Thank you for any insight!
Answer
Hi Audrey,
Explaining the meaning of the numbers isn't easy and there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. You can do simple Internet searches and find many sites that explain it. But save yourself the trouble and do as you planned. The doctor will be able to figure out why you're not seeing as well as you want to and explain it. There is no 'guessing' about what is done, rather testing known lenses on the eye and then making the best next choice.
Best of luck,
Mitch Axelrod,OD
