FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

You should always put your contact lenses in before applying make-up to avoid getting any on the lens, which can cause discomfort in the eye. When it comes to removing make-up it is best practice to remove and clean your lenses first before taking off your make-up.
Contact lenses containing the word "Toric" or "Astigmatism" e.g. 1-Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism or PureVision Toric are for patients with an astigmatism. Astigmatism is where the rugby ball-shaped curvature of the eye causes there to be two different prescriptions in the eye, resulting in blurred vision. This needs to be corrected by toric lenses with multiple prescriptions.
All contact lens prescriptions include a least three values: base curve, diameter and power. However for toric or multifocal lenses additional values will be added to the prescription, usually no more than four.
The specifications you can expect to see are as follows:
Base Curve (BC): The curvature of the lens in millimetres usually between 8.3 and 9.0.
Diameter (D): The diameter of the contact lens. This number ranges from between 13.8 to 14.5.
Power (PWR/SPH): Is a + or - figure followed by a number e.g. -4.50 or +0.25. This represents the level of visual correction needed, and whether your lenses correct long-sightedness (plus/+ powers) or short-sightedness (minus/- powers). For some contact lenses the power may also be 0.00, plano or displayed with this symbol ∞ which is for non-prescription use e.g. coloured contact lenses.
If you have astigmatism the following values will also be required:
Cylinder (CYL): A minus number that increases in a scale of 0.25 dioptres, ranging between -0.25 to -2.75.
Axis (AX): A number between 0 and 180, that determines the direction needed to correct your astigmatism.
If you wear multifocal contact lenses the following values will also be required:
Addition (ADD): A + number between 0.50 and 3.00, or referred to as high, medium or low. This is an additional power that determines the level of correction needed for you to focus on near objects.
Dominant (D): A choice between "D" and "N" to determine which is the dominant and the non-dominant eye.
A valid prescription is one that is in date. On your written prescription there should be an expiry date given. Most prescriptions are valid for a year from the date of your last contact lens check-up.
Multi-Purpose Solution is suitable for use with most soft contact lenses. Our customer service team can advise you on the best solution for your contact lenses. You can contact them by phone on 0330 133 13 14 or by email [email protected]
Your contact lens prescription or lens specifications are printed on the end or side of your contact lens box and labelled on the top of the blister packs that contain your lenses. Your optician will hold a copy of your written prescription; you are legally entitled to have a copy of this once you have completed your initial contact lens trial.
When you attended a contact lens fitting with your optician they would have determined the contact lenses that best fit your eyes and lifestyle. It is very important to tell your optician what you wish to wear your lenses for, how many days a week and for how many hours a day. We have produced a 'Guide to Contact Lenses' to help our customers choose the lenses that are right for them.