Benefit Bar - Test

Promo bar-Reorder

<div><p><strong>Reorder in 3 clicks</strong></p></div>

Benefit Bar - Test 2

Your 365-day guarantee

<div><p><strong>365-day guarantee</strong></p></div>

Benefit Bar - Test 3

Delivery information

Delivery Information

<div><p><strong>Next day delivery</strong></p></div>

header_benefit_bar

Stores & Eye tests

STORES & EYE TESTS

header_find_a_store

header_search

header_search_trending_now

Key Selling Bar Test Banner 1

Reorder in 3 clicks

Key Selling Bar Test Banner 2

365-day guarantee

Key Selling Bar Test Banner 3

Next day delivery

header_key_selling_bar

Contact Lenses

Brands

BRANDS

BRANDS CTA

header_ddm_first_column

Shop by Wear

SHOP BY WEAR

Shop by Type

SHOP BY TYPE

header_ddm_second_column

Big Menu Banner

<div><p>Treat your eyes to our most hydrating dailies</p></div>

FREE CONTACT LENSES

header_ddm_third_column

Trustpilot Placeholder

Eye Care

EYE CARE

EYE CARE CTA

Top Products

Shop By Brand

Solutions

SOLUTIONS MENU

SOLUTIONS CTA

Shop by Brand

Help and News DDM

Help & News

HELP AND NEWS

HELP AND NEWS CTA

Eye Care Centre

Blog

Special offers

OFFERS

Shop by Brands

Acuvue Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_acuvue)

Acuvue

Air Optix Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_air_optix)

Air Optix

Biofinity Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_biofinity)

Biofinity

Biomedics Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_biomedics)

Biomedics 

Clariti Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_clairiti)

Clariti

Dailies Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_Dailies)

Dailies

everclear Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_everclear)

everclear

Freshlook Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_freshlook)

Freshlook

MyDay Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_myday)

MyDay

Precision Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_precision)

Precision

Proclear Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_proclear)

Proclear

Purevision Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_purevision)

PureVision 

SofLens Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_brand_soflens)

SofLens

Total

Contact Lens Brands (contact_lenses_brand)

Contact Lens Brands

Shop by wear

Daily Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_category_daily)

Daily Contact Lenses

Two Weekly Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_category_two_weekly)

Two Weekly Contact Lenses

Monthly Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_category_monthly)

Monthly Contact Lenses

Brand Equivalents

Boots contact lenses

Boots

Hubble contacts equivalent

Hubble

Buy Specsavers contact lenses - easyvision equivalents

Specsavers | easyvision

Waldo equivalent contact lenses

Waldo 

Contact Lenses (contact_lenses)

Toric contact lenses for astigmatism (contact_lenses_type_toric)

Torics for Astigmatism

Coloured Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_type_colour)

Coloured Contact Lenses

Multifocal Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_type_multifocal)

Multifocal Contact Lenses

Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses (contact_lenses_type_silicon_hydrogel)

Silicone Hydrogel Lenses

Contact Lens Solutions (solutions)

Contact Lens Solutions

Eye Drops (eyecare_type_eyedrops)

Eye Drops

Best Sellers

everclear ELITE

1 Day Acuvue Moist

Dailies AquaComfort Plus

everclear ADM

Acuvue Oasys

1 Day Acuvue Moist For Astigmatism

header_left_side_navigation

how_to_read_prescription_row_1

main_placement_1

how_to_read_prescription_row_2

<div>
 <p>Your contact lens prescription allows you to purchase <a data-show="replace" href="/en-uk/contact-lenses">contact lenses</a> that match your requirements from opticians or online suppliers. You should always be given a prescription after a successful contact lens fitting. If you didn’t receive one, in the UK it’s your legal right to have a copy, so just reach out to your optician and ask.</p>
</div>

main_placement_2

how_to_read_prescription_row_3

<div>
 <p>When it comes to correcting your eyesight, the answer is ‘yes’, you do need a prescription for contact lenses in the UK like you do for eyeglasses, as well as regular visits to your optometrist to check up on your eye health. However, even though you technically don't need a prescription to buy <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/eye-care-centre/what-are-coloured-contact-lenses">coloured contact lenses</a>, our optical advisor recommends that an eye test will help you to choose the most suitable ones.</p>
 <p>Ordering contact lenses from us is super-easy, as we don't need to <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/info/no-prescription-needed">verify your physical prescription</a>. Having a valid prescription is obviously essential, but we trust you to take your eye health into your own hands. If you would like us to verify it, we're happy to do that too.</p>
</div>

Do I need a prescription for contact lenses in the UK?

main_placement_3

how_to_read_prescription_row_4

<div><p>For new contact lens wearers, this video will be especially handy in helping you to learn how to read your prescription correctly.</p></div>

Reading your contact lens prescription

main_placement_4

how_to_read_prescription_row_5

main_placement_5

how_to_read_prescription_row_6

<div>
 <p>You can find your prescription on the piece of paper given to you by your optician during a check-up, on the end/side of your contact lens box or on the blister packs that contain your contact lenses.</p>
 <p>A written prescription usually includes the following specifications: base curve, diameter, power (or sphere), and then additional figures for Cylinder and Axis if you have <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/eye-care-centre/what-is-astigmatism">astigmatism</a>, and Addition and Dominant figures for <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/eye-care-centre/what-is-presbyopia">presbyopia</a> correction. The prescription for your left and right eye will be listed separately as they may vary.</p>
</div>

How do I read my prescription?

main_placement_6

how_to_read_prescription_row_7

Example prescription:

main_placement_7

text-left

<div><p><br/></p><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Base Curve</td><td>Diameter</td><td>Power/Sphere</td><td>Cylinder</td><td>Axis</td><td>Addition</td><td>Dominant</td></tr><tr><td>Left</td><td>8.4</td><td>14.0</td><td>-0.50</td><td>-1.25</td><td>10</td><td>&gt;+1.0</td><td>N</td></tr><tr><td>Right</td><td>8.4</td><td>14.0</td><td>-1.25</td><td>-1.25</td><td>10</td><td>+1.0</td><td>D</td></tr></tbody></table></div>

main_placement_8

how_to_read_prescription_row_9

<div><p><strong>Name &amp; expiry date</strong>: Your prescription should also contain the name of your contact lens brand (e.g. Acuvue Oasys) and an expiry date, which is usually a year from the date of your check-up.</p><p><br/></p><p>Here is an example of the prescription listed on the side of the box for 1-Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism.</p></div>

main_placement_9

how_to_read_prescription_row_11

<div><p>Please be aware that a contact lens prescription is different from a glasses prescription, so you cannot use one for the other.</p></div>

main_placement_10

how_to_read_prescription_row_12

<div><p><strong>Base Curve (BC):</strong> The base curve determines what type of fit is required for the lens to meet the curve of your eye; this is usually written in millimeters or sometimes with the words: flat, median or steep.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Diameter (DIA): </strong>The diameter of the contact lens is also written in millimetres and determines the width that best fits your eye.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Power/Sphere (PWR/SPH): </strong>This figure shows whether you're long or short-sighted and how much correction your eyes require. If you have long-sightedness (hyperopia) your figure will begin with a + (plus sign) and if you have short-sightedness (myopia), it will begin with a - (minus sign). This will be followed by a number that goes up from 0 in measures of 0.25 dioptres, the higher the number the stronger the visual correction needed (this value can be displayed on the box as "PWR" or "D").</p></div>

What does each prescription figure mean?

main_placement_11

how_to_read_prescription_row_13

<div><p>The below figures are only displayed on contact lens prescriptions where there is a need for astigmatism correction, and you require toric lenses.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Cylinder (CYL): </strong>The cylinder will always be a minus number that increases in measures of 0.25. Much like the power/sphere figure that is shown on all standard prescriptions, the cylinder for toric lenses denotes the extra visual requirements needed for astigmatism and how severe the astigmatism is.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Axis (AX): </strong>Astigmatism is caused by the irregular curvature of the eye; the axis is a figure which determines the angle of the correction needed in order to see clearly. The Axis is always a number between 0 and 180 degrees.</p></div>

Prescription Figures for Astigmatism

main_placement_12

how_to_read_prescription_row_14

<div><p>The below figures are only displayed on contact lens prescriptions where there is a need for presbyopia/multifocal correction.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Addition (ADD):</strong> If you suffer from presbyopia it affects your near vision, the Addition figure determines what level of correction you need to be able to see clearly at a close distance. This is a number between 0.50 and 3.00, some contact lens brands refer to this as a high, medium or low.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Dominant: </strong>Multifocal or bifocal contact lens wearers will see that the correction is determined by a dominant and non-dominant eye. This is the dominant figure, and is usually marked with a "D" and "N" to express which eye is which.</p></div>

Prescription Figures for Presbyopia

main_placement_13

<div>
 <p>• <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/info/no-prescription-needed" aria-label="Can I order contacts without prescription verification?">Can I order contacts without prescription verification?</a><br>• <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/blog/contact-lens-beginner-tips" aria-label="Contact lens beginner tips and tricks">Contact lens beginner tips and tricks</a><br>• <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/eye-health/eye-exercises-fight-eye-strain" aria-label="6 eye exercises to fight eye strain">6 eye exercises to fight eye strain</a><br>• <a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/eye-care-centre/contact-lens-care" aria-label="How do I care for my contact lenses?">How do I care for my contact lenses?</a></p>
</div>

main_placement_14

OUR QUALITY PROMISE

TAILORED  EYE CARE

TAILORED 
EYE CARE

PERSONAL STYLE SERVICE

PERSONAL 
STYLE SERVICE

FREE AFTERCARE, ALWAYS

FREE AFTERCARE, 
ALWAYS

FREE & GREEN SHIPPING

FREE & GREEN 
SHIPPING

footer_before_footer

PHONE SUPPORT

<div>
 <p>Vision Direct</p>
 <p>The Kensington Building</p>
 <p>1 Wrights Lane</p>
 <p>London W8 5RY</p>
 <p><br></p>
 <p><a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/info/cancellation-returns" aria-label="Returns and Refunds">Returns and Refunds</a></p>
</div>

HEAD OFFICE

<div>
 <p>For all enquiries please complete our</p>
 <p><a data-show="replace" href="/en-gb/c/info/contact-us" aria-label="Contact Us form">Contact Us form</a></p>
 <p><br></p>
</div>

HERE TO HELP

footer_contact

footer_other_link_1_about

About us

footer_other_link_2_blog

footer_other_link_3_terms

Terms & Conditions

footer_other_link_4_privacy policy

Privacy Policy

footer_other_link_5_cookie policy

Cookie Policy

footer_other_link_6_affiliates

Affiliates

footer_other_links

Understand your contact lens prescription with our easy guide. Buy lenses online to match your prescription & suit your wearing habits.

How to read your contact lens prescription | Vision Direct

How to read your contact lens prescription

Shop <PRODUCT_NAME> accessories in <COLOR>. Discover more on Clearly Online.

Shop <PRODUCT_NAME> electronics in <COLOR>. Discover more on Clearly Store Online.

Shop <PRODUCT_NAME> eyeglasses in <COLOR>. Discover more on Clearly Store Online.

Shop <PRODUCT_NAME> sunglasses in <COLOR>. Discover more on Clearly Store Online.

<PRODUCT_NAME> Accessories in <COLOR> | VisionDirect

<PRODUCT_NAME> Electronics in <COLOR> | VisionDirect

<PRODUCT_NAME> Eyeglasses in <COLOR> | VisionDirect

<PRODUCT_NAME> Sunglasses in <COLOR> | VisionDirect