If you wear contact lenses, you probably have two prescriptions! But how does a glasses prescription differ from a contacts prescription? Stick around as SportRx breaks down the nuances.


Glasses vs. Contacts Prescription

1. Glasses Rx vs. Contacts Rx: How do They Differ?
2. How are They Similar?
3. Can Anyone get Prescription Contacts?
4. Prescription Glasses at SportRx


Eyeglass Tyler talks about how glasses and contacts prescriptions are different, how they are similar, and answers the question of whether anyone can get prescription contact lenses.


Glasses Rx vs. Contacts Rx: How do They Differ?

Ideally, your glasses prescription will be written to correct your vision to 20/20. But while contacts can achieve 20/20, your doctor will write the prescription within the confines of what the contact lens can handle. Their focus is to get you as close to 20/20 as possible.

The two prescriptions are also not interchangeable. A contact lens prescription is written for a specific brand and style, and will include the base curve and diameter of the lens. The base curve and diameter, often abbreviated as BC and DIA respectively, are not on a glasses prescription.

A contact lens prescription will almost always be written for one year, while often a glasses prescription can be valid for longer.

The prescription will always be marked whether it's for spectacles or contact lenses, so keep an eye out for that. This seems like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to miss if you're not looking for it!


How are They Similar?

Glasses and contacts prescriptions often look pretty similar. You'll usually have the same or very similar numbers on both. They will have a sphere (SPH) correction, and possibly a cylinder (CYL) and axis correction as well.

In some cases, you may have cylinder and axis on your glasses prescription but not your contact lens prescription. This is because of what we mentioned earlier about doctors writing contacts prescriptions to get you as close to 20/20 as possible. Getting rid of the cylinder and axis correction makes the contact a little easier to manufacture as well as wear. The downside is that your vision won't be as clear.


Can Anyone get Prescription Contacts?

For the most part, yes! Contact lens prescriptions can be written for almost anyone, with a few limitations. The first is that doctors won't usually write one for young children, and prefer to wait until they're a little older.

There are also some eye conditions that can prevent you from wearing contacts comfortably, so that's something to discuss with your doctor. But by and large, contacts work for almost anyone.


Prescription Glasses at SportRx

Need prescription glasses? Done. When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tooltips throughout the build process as you customize the perfect pair. An answer to all your questions is at your fingertips, and if you want to chat with an expert, Contact Us. We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians who can help you build your prescription glasses.

Ditch risky online shopping with the See Better Guarantee. Try your glasses for 45 days. If you’re not satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit towards a better pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get your pair of prescription glasses at SportRx today!

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