Choosing Eyeglass Lenses: By Prescription

When selecting eyeglasses, your prescription plays an important role in determining which frames and lenses are the best choices.

If you are very nearsighted:

Choose a frame with a small eye-size (the size of the openings in the frame for the lenses). A large eye-size will make your lenses thicker and heavier. A smaller eye-size will make them thinner and lighter.
Choose a high index lens material. High index lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic or glass lenses.
Get eyeglass lenses with an anti-reflective (AR) coating. Eliminating lens reflections will make your lenses look thinner, and provide better vision when driving at night.

If you are very farsighted:

Choose a smaller frame. A frame with a smaller eye-size will reduce the thickness of your lenses and the overall weight of your eyewear.
Choose an "aspheric" lens. An aspheric lens design will make your lenses flatter and reduce unwanted magnification that can give you that "bug-eye" look with regular lenses with a high prescription for farsightedness. Aspheric lenses also provide better peripheral vision if you are farsighted.
Avoid rimless frame designs. Lenses for farsightedness sometimes have to be made thicker to fit in this type of frame. Ask your optician for details.

If you have high astigmatism:

Choose a smaller frame to reduce lens thickness and avoid peripheral lens distortions.
Ask your optician about "atoric" lenses, which may provide better optics for clearer, more comfortable vision.