Home » How Bad Is My Eye Prescription? An Optometrist’s Guide To Understanding Your Vision

How Bad Is My Eye Prescription? An Optometrist’s Guide To Understanding Your Vision

Many people wonder “how bad is my eye prescription?” It’s a common question that optometrists hear often. Understanding the medical terms related to your vision can be confusing. This guide will help you make sense of those numbers and symbols on your eye prescription.

A closer look at the numbers behind “how bad is my eye prescription?”

Your eye prescription is a measure of how much vision correction you need. It tells you and your optometrist about your refractive error. This could be nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

When people ask “how bad is my eye prescription?” they’re often trying to understand these terms. Let’s break it down:

Nearsightedness (Myopia): This means you can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects are blurry. Your prescription will have a minus sign.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia): You can see distant objects clearly, but nearby objects are blurry. Your prescription will have a plus sign.
Astigmatism: This occurs when your eye’s cornea or lens isn’t perfectly round. It can cause distorted vision at all distances.

The severity of your prescription depends on the numbers. A minus sign indicates nearsightedness. A plus sign shows farsightedness. The higher the number, the stronger the prescription.

Your prescription might also include:

Sphere (SPH): This number indicates the lens power needed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Cylinder (CYL): This shows the lens power needed to correct astigmatism.
Axis: This number, from 0 to 180, shows the orientation of astigmatism correction.
Add: For those who need help with near vision, this indicates added magnifying power for reading.

Contact lens prescriptions vs. eyeglass prescriptions

Contact lens prescriptions are different from eyeglass prescriptions. They include additional measurements. Your optometrist is the best person to determine if you need contact lenses or glasses.

When people ask “how bad is my eye prescription?” they should know that the answer might differ for contacts and glasses. Why? Because contact lenses sit directly on your eye’s surface. Glasses sit about 12mm away from your eye. This distance affects the prescription strength needed.

A contact lens prescription includes:

Base curve: This measures the curvature of the back surface of the contact lens.
Diameter: This is the width of the contact lens.
Brand: Different brands may fit differently, even with the same prescription.

These measurements ensure the contact lens fits comfortably and provides clear vision.

Eyeglass prescriptions don’t need these extra measurements. They focus solely on the lens power needed to correct your vision.

Your optometrist might adjust your prescription slightly when switching between contacts and glasses. This is normal and ensures you get the best vision correction for each type of lens.

Some people ask “how bad is my eye prescription for contacts?” It’s important to note that contact lens prescriptions often appear “weaker” than glasses prescriptions for the same person. This doesn’t mean your vision has improved. It’s just due to the closer position of contacts to your eye.

Remember, you can’t use an eyeglass prescription to buy contact lenses. You need a separate contact lens exam and prescription. This ensures your contacts fit well and don’t harm your eye health.

Always follow your optometrist’s advice on which type of vision correction is best for you. They consider factors like your lifestyle, eye health, and personal preferences when making recommendations.

Improving your vision

If you’re concerned about how bad your eye prescription is, talk to your eye doctor. They might suggest:

Glasses or contact lenses
Vision correction surgery
Low vision devices for severe cases
Ways to maintain eye health

At the same time, to keep your eyes healthy:

Get regular eye exams
Wear sunglasses outdoors
Eat a healthy diet
Don’t smoke
Use protective eyewear when needed

When to see an optometrist

See your eye doctor if:

Your vision becomes blurry
You have trouble seeing at night
You experience eye pain
It’s been over a year since your last eye exam

Remember “how bad is my eye prescription?” is just one part of your overall eye health. Regular check-ups with your optometrist are the best way to keep your vision sharp and your eyes healthy. At 414 Eyes, we offer comprehensive wellness screenings that go beyond just determining your prescription. Our experienced optometrists provide thorough evaluations to diagnose and manage common eye diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma, or macular degeneration, ensuring your overall eye health is maintained.

Don’t wait to prioritize your vision—schedule your appointment with us today and experience the difference of personalized, quality eye care in Milwaukee.

FAQs

People often ask “how bad is my eye prescription compared to others?”

There’s no simple answer. Everyone’s eyes are different. What matters most is how well you can see with correction. Your optometrist can explain if your prescription is mild, moderate, or severe. They can also discuss any eye health concerns.

How bad is my eye prescription if I have blurry vision in my left eye and right eye, and need to wear glasses?

The severity of your prescription depends on various factors. Blurry vision can be caused by refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Your eye doctor will determine how bad your eye prescription is during an eye exam. Wearing glasses or other corrective lenses can help improve your vision.

What’s the difference between distance vision and near vision in my glasses prescription, and how does it relate to moderate nearsightedness and severe nearsightedness?

Distance vision refers to seeing far objects clearly, while near vision is for close-up tasks. Moderate nearsightedness (typically -3.25 to -6.00 diopters) affects distance vision more than near vision. Severe nearsightedness (stronger than -6.00 diopters) significantly impacts distance vision and may require stronger corrective lenses.

What do OD and OS stand for on my contact prescription, and what does “prescription means” refer to?

OD stands for “oculus dexter” or right eye, while OS stands for “oculus sinister” or left eye. “Prescription means” refers to what the numbers and symbols on an eye prescription indicate about your vision correction needs, including spherical and cylindrical corrections.

How does visual acuity relate to being considered legally blind, and how does it affect peripheral vision?

Visual acuity measures how well you see details. Normal visual acuity is 20/20. You’re considered legally blind if your best-corrected visual acuity is 20/200 or worse, or if your visual field is 20 degrees or less. Peripheral vision, which is your side vision, is also considered when determining if someone is legally blind.

What’s the difference between spherical correction and cylindrical correction in my prescription, and how do they appear on an eye prescription chart?

Spherical correction addresses nearsightedness or farsightedness, while cylindrical correction is for astigmatism. On an eye prescription chart, spherical correction is listed under “SPH,” cylindrical under “CYL,” and the axis of astigmatism under “AXIS.”

How do multifocal lenses help with age-related vision changes, and can they help achieve perfect vision?

Multifocal lenses, including bifocals and progressive lenses, help correct vision at multiple distances. They’re often used for age-related conditions like presbyopia. While they can significantly improve vision, achieving “perfect vision” depends on individual factors and may not always be possible.

What’s the importance of pupillary distance in my eyeglass prescription, and how can incorrect measurements lead to double vision?

Pupillary distance (PD) is the measurement between your pupils. It’s crucial for properly positioning lenses in your glasses frames. Incorrect PD can lead to eye strain, headaches, or double vision, where you see two images of a single object.

How does wearing sunglasses relate to preventing age-related macular degeneration, and what other lifestyle factors can help maintain eye health?

Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from harmful UV rays, which can contribute to age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration. A healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, not smoking, and attending annual eye exams, can also help maintain good eye health.

What’s the difference between high nearsightedness and high farsightedness, and how do corrective lenses help magnify objects for each condition?

High nearsightedness involves prescriptions stronger than -6.00 diopters, allowing clear vision of near objects but blurry distance vision. High farsightedness involves prescriptions stronger than +5.00 diopters, where distant objects may be clearer than near ones. Corrective lenses for nearsightedness help focus distant images on the retina, while lenses for farsightedness help magnify and focus near objects.

How often should I get my eyes checked, what’s the expiration date on prescriptions, and at what age do eyes fully develop?

Most eye doctors recommend annual eye exams. Eye prescriptions typically expire after one to two years. Eyes generally fully develop by age 20 to 21, but vision can change throughout life due to various factors, including age-related conditions. Regular check-ups help detect and manage eye conditions early, especially if there’s a family history of eye problems.