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Contact Lens Prescriptions
Every contact lens prescription is required to provide certain
information. These are standards that any lens practitioner prescribing
contacts is obliged to follow. Patients should understand that they now
have legislated rights to demand a copy of their lens prescription from
their doctor, and that they are under no obligation to purchase their
contact lenses from any particular source.
Please read through
the information at the bottom of this page for details about how to read
your contact lens prescription properly.
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Information provided on a Contact Lens
Prescription
The following details should be present on every contact lens prescription
written:
1) Patient's name
2) Date of Prescription
3) Contact lens manufacturer (when required)
4) Prescription expiration date (typically, at least one year)
5) Physician's signature
6) Brand name or model type of prescribed lens
7) Number of lenses authorized and replacement schedule (for disposable
contacts)
8) Lens power
9) Diameter measurements
10) Base curve measurements
Understanding your Contact Lens Prescription
The typical contact lens prescription includes several numbers, each of
which has it's own separate meaning. Understanding what these numbers
mean, and what changes in the numbers mean, can help a patient understand
their unique vision needs and health.
A lens prescription will look something like this:
OD -6.45 -2.10 90 +1.10
OS -6.50 -1.00 180 +1.00
BC 8.5 DIA 14.1
OD refers to the right eye, OS to the left eye, and OU to both eyes. The
first number (-6.45) refers to the refractive power and is measured
in diopeters. When this number is negative, it indicates that myopia
(nearsightedness) is present. When it is positive, it indicates that
hyperopia (farsightedness) is present. The greater the number, the greater
the degree of myopia or
hyperopia.
The second number (-2.10), when present, reflects the presence and degree
of astigmatism. Astigmatism exists when the eye is shaped more like an
oval instead of a sphere. Astigmatism is also measured in diopeters.
The third number (90) reflects the axis of astigmatism. This number is
measured in degrees, with 90 indicated a vertical axis, and 180 a
horizontal axis.
The fourth number (+1.10) is present if the prescription indicates a
bifocal lens. The number reflects the reading power of the bifocal lens.
BC refers the the base curve of a contact lens (radius). Base curve is
measured in millimeters.
DIA refers to the diameter of the lens, and is also measured in
millimeters.
Do you have a copy of your Lens
Prescription?
A new federal law, passed over a year ago, specifically states that
patients should have access to a copy of their contact lens prescription.
Many optometrists make it difficult for their patients to access a copy of
their prescription, for the only reason that the patient is then forced to
buy their lenses through the optometrist (not to mention, undergo an
annual eye exam). Congress passes the "Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers
Act" in 2003, requiring eye doctors of all types to provide their patients
with a copy of their lens prescription after a lens fitting, and to verify
the prescriptions they write to third parties that have been designated by
their patients.
There remain some rules agreed to by Congress after strong lobbying by
Optometrists associations across the country. Optometrists in 42 states
are able to refuse to pass on a prescription that is over one year old, or
for prescriptions over two years old in the other 8 states.
Consumer advocates continue to lobby for clearer definitions and increased
consumer awareness about contact lenses. They argue that the rules still
in place make it difficult for
discount contact lens suppliers to operate
in what is still not a completely free marketplace. Excellent prices and
deals are available to consumers by suppliers operating over the Internet
and elsewhere, yet some patients are still unable to take advantage of the
lower prices.
Know the Rules
The Federal Trade Commission has set the ground rules under which consumer
rights are currently protected. These rules include;
-
Lens prescribers must
provide their patients with a copy of their current prescription once the
lens fitting is completed
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Lens prescribers must
verify prescriptions to all third parties designated by their patients
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Lens prescribers can
not place any conditions on the verification or release of their patient's
prescriptions
-
Lens sellers must have
or have verified a current copy of a patient's lens prescription before
they can sell lenses to an individual
-
A prescription is
deemed verified if the prescriber does not respond to a seller's request
for verification within 8 hours of the request being made
-
Sets out minimum
contact lens prescription expiration dates
The lesson for
patients is to obtain a copy of their lens prescription, understand what
the prescription means, and show around for the very best prices on
contact lenses. The variation in contact lens prices can be enormous, and
the FTC advises consumers to
shop carefully for the best bargains and
discounts.
Resources: Learn about how
contact lens prescriptions guidelines fall
into the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act. Learn what the FDA
has to say about
buying prescription contact lenses on the
Internet.
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