HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Please tell me the connection between vision on an eye chart (say, 20/20 or 20/50) and eye prescription (-1 or -2.5)?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Fuzzy connection: In general the higher the refractive number (diopters like -2.00) then the worse the vision, but the relationship is not linear and one cannot be used to compute the other.They both have their uses which is why they both persist.

Dr Jackson agreed

Answered 6/18/2013

5.1k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

I'm 16 year old . My eyes are myopic with a vision of -7 . But I wear prescriptions of -5 . Will it damage my eyes further more and worsen my myopia?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Do eye exercises and wearing a weaker prescription work for improving your vision?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Eye prescription is +0.25x-1.0. So my power is "+", but spherical equivalent is "-". Am i myopic or hyperopic? Is near or far vision better?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

Should I wear my nearsighted glasses for reading and looking at computer? My prescription is -1.75 rt eye, -.75 left eye. Will it make vision worse?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

Had retina detachment 3 years ago. Eyes prescription has been higher. Can wearing contacts reduce it from going up? Been experiencing tunnel vision

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

I had an eye exam yesterday and my notes say I have degenerative mytopia. My prescription is -6.00. What does that mean? Is my vision terrible?
I'm having a double vision, even though I have this eye doctor examine me twice with two different prescriptions. Who can help me?
I am experiencing blurry vision.my right eye has been blurry for the past two to three years and I have prescription glasses multifocals.for the past few days the vision on my left eye is more blurry and my right eye is also blurry?
Four days post cataract surgery in one eye. Any advice for managing the nausea that is coming from getting used to very different vision? Other eye doesnt have cataract but poor vision that requires strong eyeglass prescription, I feel unbalanced?
I went to the eye doctor's and was prescribed with two different prescriptions: -5.5 and -6.5, one for studying, and other for home/out. Is this okay?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.