Post Cataract Prescription

Posted , 3 users are following.

I have had my cataract surgery and eyes have settled, but I currently need glasses for distance and have an astigmatism. I am trying to work out for myself what prescription would work and came up with this for my right eye

Sphere -1.00

Cylinder +0.5

Axis 180

This is actually very good because I have now got some glasses made to this prescription and it sorts out my issues. My question here is whether this prescription is written in the ideal way . Although it looks very different, would the following be the same and if so does it matter which one is used ?

Sphere -0.5

Cylinder -0.5

Axis 90

The reason I am trying to work it out myself is that I have had some differences with the optometrist and would like to understand and if necessary tweak my prescription to suit myself.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    The second way is the normal convention (negative cylinder) used by optometrists. The first way with positive cylinder is the convention used by most ophthalmologists. I agree with your conversion.

  • Posted

    The negative cylinder format is usually how optometrists provide the Rx.

    The positive cylinder format is favored by opthalmologists.

    • Posted

      Thanks. Do you know how optometrists decide which will be the sphere value? Is it for instance the smallest value, i.e. nearest to zero either way negative or positive?

    • Posted

      Standard practice is to use a Phoropter. Then it is your pick as to what looks best to you between the available choices which are in 0.25 D steps.

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