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Can I use my eyeglasses prescription to order contact lenses?

No, because your eyeglasses prescription is different from a contact lens prescription. Since contacts are worn on your eyes, they aren't positioned at the same distance as glasses and the measurements are dissimilar. Only a licensed contact lens fitter can adapt a glasses prescription to a contacts prescription, upon performing fitting trials with you.

A valid contact lens prescription includes:

• Contact lens brand

• Base Curve (BC)

• Diameter (DIA)

• Corrective power: Sphere, Cylinder, Axis, and ADD

If you’re unsure whether you have a glasses or contacts prescription, please call us via our toll-free number 1-866-414-2326.

Visit our blog for detailed info about:

• How to read your glasses & contact lens prescriptions

In order to be deemed valid, your prescription must have been administered by a licensed eye care professional within the last 24 months (if it’s a glasses prescription) or the last 12 months (if it’s a contact lens prescription). The information on the prescription must also match the details entered for the order, including the patient’s information and the parameters of the order. You can get a valid prescription when you get an eye exam from any licensed eye care professional.

Do I need a prescription to place an order?

If you wear prescription eyewear, it's best to shop with your latest prescription to ensure your new pair are perfectly suited to your vision needs. If your eyes don't need prescription, go ahead and order non-prescription eyewear.

Can I order prism correction in eyeglasses at Clearly?

We don't offer prism lenses, as we believe prescriptions that include prism are best filled by the prescribing doctor’s office. Filling a prescription that includes prism heavily relies on seeing the customer in the frames at the time of purchase, so that additional measurements can be taken and the frame can be assessed and adjusted, which we're unable to accommodate.

What do all the acronyms on my prescription mean?

• OD “oculus dexter” indicates your right eye’s parameters

• OS “oculus sinister” shows your left eye’s parameters

• SPH “sphere” indicates the amount of lens power prescribed for nearsighted or farsighted vision. It's measured in diopter, using (+) for farsightedness (hyperopia) and (-) for nearsightedness (myopia)

• CYL & AXIS: Both Cylinder (CYL) and Axis numbers (between 0 and 180 degrees) are required to correct Astigmatism

• ADD provides magnifying power for reading, bifocal, multifocal, and progressive lenses. You'll most likely have the same number for both eyes, ranging between +0.75 and +3.00

Some glasses prescriptions also include additional numbers such as:

• PD (Pupillary Distance) is the distance between the centre of your pupils, measured in millimetres (mm). It indicates where the optical centre of your lenses should be placed so you can have the best, most comfortable vision

• Prism: measured in prismatic diopter and only required when eye alignment needs assistance. We're unable to offer prism prescription glasses, as we believe a prism prescription is best filled by the eye doctor.

For more information, read our blog article on how to read a prescription.

What do all the acronyms on my contacts prescription mean?

• Base Curve (BC) indicates your contact lens’ shape. Depending on the steepness or flatness of your cornea, it'll determine how large your contact lens should be

• Diameter (DIA) indicates your contacts’ length to ensure your cornea is covered properly

• Brand: your eye doctor determines the right brand and lens type based on your vision needs, preferences, and specific requirements

• Expiration date: your eye care doctor provides an expiry date for your prescription. Generally, your contacts prescription lasts a year—after that, you'll need to get a new prescription.

• Corrective power: Sphere, Cylinder, Axis, and ADD indicate the power needed in your contacts. These numbers often change (or disappear) between your glasses and your contacts prescription, especially with higher powers.

For more information, read our blog article on how to read a prescription.