Quick question about contacts.

nativesunshine

Diamond Member
Jan 6, 2003
3,284
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Okie...my right contact ripped this morning. I came back to my room and I only have my left spare contact left. So...i think, I put on my LEFT contact in my RIGHT eye...and I would be ok...for now, right?

My prescriptions are:

LEFT - BC: 8.5
SPH: -7.50
CYL: -1.25

RIGHT - BC: 8.5
SPH: -8.00
CYL: -1.25

So I'm guessing since everything else is the same and only the SPH is different...it should be ok to wear my left contact in my right eye..b/c it's only off by .50? I'm getting new ones this weekend...so I should be ok wearing these for now, right??

I have no clue what those letters and number stand for...and I'm assuming most of you don't either, but thought I'd ask anyway.
 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
10
81
do you have a choice? like do you have back up glasses? also, can't you just test the contact in your eye and take it out if it doesn't work right?
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
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It certainly won't do any harm, if that's what you're asking.

Worst case you pull it back out & go on with life.

Viper GTS
 

Spac3d

Banned
Jul 3, 2001
6,651
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Should be okay. I have done that on ocassion:eek:

At least you didn't try to put a ripped contact in your eye. People who do that are idiots.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
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Your Base curve and CYL are the same. The only difference is your RX for the eye. Your right eye will be off by - .50. That can induce some strain and you will not have normal vision out of that eye but you will be ok. It will fit the same, the RX is the only difference. You should be fine until this weekend.

Most people cannot tell a HUGE difference between a .50 difference. You will just not be able to see quite as clearly at distances. I feel your pain as I am -8.00 in both eyes.
 

nativesunshine

Diamond Member
Jan 6, 2003
3,284
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Originally posted by: Millennium
Your Base curve and CYL are the same. The only difference is your RX for the eye. Your right eye will be off by - .50. That can induce some strain and you will not have normal vision out of that eye but you will be ok. It will fit the same, the RX is the only difference. You should be fine until this weekend.

Most people cannot tell a HUGE difference between a .50 difference. You will just not be able to see quite as clearly at distances. I feel your pain as I am -8.00 in both eyes.

Good...if my new contacts are in by tomorrow..i will make a quick trip back home and get them. Thanks for everyone's replies. So far I'm not having any problems...hope they'll stay good til tomorrow!
 

cmv

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
3,490
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Originally posted by: amnesiac
Good lord, and I thought I was blind. I'm -6.00 and-5.50 myself.
Me too! I'm only -4.75. -8.0 is like a wombat or something ;). That is impressive!

 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,405
8,584
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-3.25 right and -4 left, i can tell the difference.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
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Originally posted by: Staley8
is -8.0 legally blind?

Article from Yahoo:

According to the entry on blindness in the Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia, anyone with vision worse than 20/200 that cannot be improved with corrective lenses is considered legally blind.


So since everyone here so far has said can see with correction... No.
 

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
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Wouldn't a diopter of -8.00 act like a fresnel lens and ignite your eyeball if you get exposed to sunlight?
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
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Originally posted by: Staley8
is -8.0 legally blind?
No. Legally blind is when your eyes cannot be corrected. If your vision can be corrected, regardless of your prescription, then you are not legally blind.
That said, I am -7.75R -7.25L with a ridiculous level of astigmatism on top of that. My right eye can be corrected to 20/20, my left to 20/30.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Legally blind is a crock of crap anyway, there's more to vision than acuity.

20/15 doesn't do you a damn bit of good if you can't force your eyes open because the light hurts so bad.

Viper GTS
 

TheNinja

Lifer
Jan 22, 2003
12,207
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Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Staley8
is -8.0 legally blind?
No. Legally blind is when your eyes cannot be corrected. If your vision can be corrected, regardless of your prescription, then you are not legally blind.
That said, I am -7.75R -7.25L with a ridiculous level of astigmatism on top of that. My right eye can be corrected to 20/20, my left to 20/30.

I guess I should clarify then....if your contacts are -8.0 and you are not wearing them, are you legally blind?
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: Staley8
I guess I should clarify then....if your contacts are -8.0 and you are not wearing them, are you legally blind?
Not sure how to answer that. I'd definitely get a ticket if I drove (if I didn't wreck first). :Q :p
But no, in that case I would not be considered "legally blind." That label is for a disability, and the disability means that a person has vision which cannot be corrected to an acceptable level. Nothing more.
 

Spikey289

Senior member
May 20, 2002
291
0
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Yep i got 5.50 and 6.00 myself and one eye got better! :) If its that small a diffrence like everyone else said you can wear the wrong lens in an eye and it shouild be ok.