Contact lenses for astigmatism

If I was given a cylinder of -1.0 and my only options are -.75 and -1.25 what should I choose? Also, if I was given an Axis of 165 and my only options are 160 and 170 what should I choose?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Everyone that wears contacts should be under the care of an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. These are questions for your contact lens fitter/glasses fitter.

JCH MD

[mcachicago]

With all due respect I didn't come here for an answer like that. I would hope anyone would take that route first.

The problem is she is on vacation for a couple weeks. I got my prescription and then I was told their price. It was too much. So I went online. It's much cheaper. The problem is I got those numbers above for my left eye and those are not options I can choose anywhere online. When I called her back to ask what I should do they told me she was on vacation. I don't have the money to pay for new glasses right now. The contacts are cheaper.

With all the people out there I'm sure someone has dealt with this before or if there is an eye doctor in this forum I'm sure he'd be able to tell me whether it is better to go higher or lower for both the cylinder and the axis.

I'd appreciate any help. Thanks.

[JodieJ]

You cannot order contacts online without a prescription specifically written for the contact lenses being purchased.

A prescription for glasses is not necessarily the same as for contacts. I don't think any eye doctor can answer your questions online; s/he'd have to check your vision wearing the contacts to fine tune the script.  Contacts also come in different base curves.  Wearing poorly fitting contacts can damage your corneas.

If you paid your eye care provider for an exam and a fitting fee for contacts,  I believe that you are entitled to a prescription which can be used for buying online.  (I know these are hard economic times, but it might be worth the reduction in your stress to buy one box of contacts from your eye care provider.  You will then have your exact prescription on the box; an online seller will gladly call your doctor's office to verify it.)