Wearing an eyeglass lens that is not of the proper corrective power
will not cause any long-term damage, but it is possible to experience
eyestrain, and perhaps headaches, as a result of a refractive error.
"Can I hurt my eyes with the wrong lenses?
There is no clinical evidence to suggest that looking through lenses
with the wrong prescription or pupillary distance configuration can
cause damage to your eyes. However, there could be other undesirable
consequences (especially for people with stronger corrections), such
as headache, dizziness, and vertigo. Some of these effects could cause
a dangerous situation if you are driving, handling machinery, or
otherwise reliant on your eyeglasses for your safety or the safety of
others."
Eyeglasses.com: Lenses and your prescription
http://www.eyeglasses.com/information/guide/index.page
The material above applies to the use of eyeglasses. However, the
exact prescription and the composition and structure of the lens
(which varies by brand) are much more critical when contact lenses are
involved:
"Are you talking about a contact lens prescription? Yes, wearing the
wrong prescription can absolutely lead to problems with the eyes. The
eyes can become red and irritated if the fit is poor and causing not
enough oxygen to reach the eye. This can cause permanent scarring and
vision loss if not taken care of.
There are many different contact lens materials, and this is part of
the prescription. Wearing the wrong contact lens for your eye can also
cause problems with lack of oxygen as well as dry eye problems,
allergy problems, and other irritation. Using the wrong solutions for
your eye can also cause these problems...
Jennifer Hensil, OD, MS
Elizabethtown, PA"
Cached copy from Ask Physicians Forum
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:cH3aCez7nt4J:www.askphysicians.com/cgi-local/forums.cgi%3Fdisplay%3Dthread%26forum%3D4%26id%3D1808+%22wrong+prescription%22+lenses&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8
"Ordering the wrong contact lenses can have serious negative
repercussions for your eyesight."
Contact Lenses Order Online
http://www.buy-discount-crazy-colored-contact-lenses-order-online.com/contact-lenses-order-online.html
"A wrong prescription can damage a person's eyes... A contact lens
prescription has two parts. The first is the vision correcting part
and the second is the lens fitting part. If the vision is wrong you
will have blurred vision and will have wasted your money. The vision
part of a contact lens prescription is often different from a glasses
prescription. If the shape is too loose it will be uncomfortable, make
your vision blurred and perhaps fall out regularly. If it is too tight
it will probably feel OK but will cause eye damage with time."
Net Optical: FAQs
http://www.netoptical.com.au/warranty.htm
"There is a major difference between a 'prescription' for eyeglasses
and recommendations for contact lenses. Although the recommendation
for glasses or lenses is commonly called a prescription, it is really
a notation by the optometrist, and is not considered a part of a
medical record. And commonly, these recommendations regarding glasses
or lenses are subject to change or correction, following a fitting and
evaluation period. These changes must be decided by the doctor.
Most important, however, is the fact that 'spectacles,' that sit on
the face, are quite unlike contact lenses, which sit on living tissue:
If an eyeglass lens is not manufactured to the needed specifications,
the only risk is blurry vision and temporary discomfort, such as
headaches or problems with equilibrium. But if the wrong contact
lenses are worn, there is real danger of damaging the eye tissue
itself."
Fight Back! With David Horowitz: Health & Medical
http://www.fightback.com/byteback/askdavid/online_onpointa.cfm?View=255
If a mistake has been made in filling your prescription, the vendor
should rectify it as soon as possible. In the meantime, I suggest that
you consult your ophthalmologist or optometrist to determine whether
or not it is appropriate for you to wear lenses that are not as
prescribed. As mentioned above, although it won't hurt a person to
wear eyeglasses that aren't exactly what the doctor ordered, a greater
standard of precision is required for the safe use of contact lenses.
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "wrong prescription" + "lenses"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22wrong+prescription%22+lenses
Google Web Search: "wrong contact lenses"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22wrong+contact+lenses
Google Web Search: "wrong lenses"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22wrong+lenses
I hope this is useful. Please keep in mind that Google Answers is not
a source of authoritative medical assistance; the material presented
above is for informational purposes, and is not intended as a
diagnosis, nor as a substitute for the services of a qualified medical
professional.
If anything I've said is unclear, or if a link doesn't work for you,
please request clarification, and I'll do my best to help.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
