Should You Wear -0.25 or -0.50 SPH Low Power Eyeglasses ?

So you are prescribed with a very low strength lens power for your eyeglasses. I am assuming it to be minus 0.25 or minus 0.50. And you are thinking whether you should have that power incorporated in your spectacles or go for zero power eyeglasses.
I will guide you in very simple terms so that you can take the best decision about this dilemma .

There are many myths in the market about low strength power eyeglasses:-
For Example:-
1) Wearing low strength power eyeglasses will worsen your refractive error.
2) Some people also say that not wearing the eyeglasses could become the reason of high refractive error in future.
3) Even if you wear the low Dioptre eyeglasses, you will not be able to work without that and become dependent on eyeglasses.
None of the points above are true.
Let’s understand what it means if a doctor has prescribed you minus 0.25 SPH Dioptre eyeglasses.
It simply means that the subject can read the 8th line of Snellen Chart from a distance of 20 feet.
If your prescription reads 0.25 Dioptres Spherical power then your Snellen score is 20/25. This score means that while eyesight examination, you could read only till 7th row of Snellen chart from the distance of 20 feet. However a person with normal vision or perhaps a fighter pilot can read that row from 25 feet which is 5 feet away from your position.
What does this prove?
It proves that technically there is a little refractive error in your eyes. But hold on, in normal daily life how many of us are required to read such small alphabets and that too from a distance of 20 feet?
You know what? There are some factors which can also influence the final result and give false positive usually between - 0.25 and 0.50 spherical Dioptre. For example, Fever, Air pollution, Starvation, Fatigue, Malfunctioned equipment, Inexperienced Examiner etc.

There is a great possibility that you WILL encounter with at least one of those factors that could give a false positive result.

So again coming to the question, should you wear those eyeglasses of low power? The answer is it depends whether you want to correct such a low refractive error which may or may not even exist.

Some people take paracetamol even when the body temperature is as low as 99 degree F. However others don’t give importance to such mild fluctuation.

You will have to Understand whether the mild refractive error is really making any difference. A doctor can only diagnose but it is you who can actually feel if there something wrong with your eyesight. If still unsure, then follow the advice of your doctor for the discussed scenario.
To get the most accurate results, it is best to get your eyes examined in the first half of the day and try not to use your mobile phone or computer a day before your eyesight checkup. If you think you have travelled to the clinic from a dusty area then you may request the doctor to let you wash your eyes before the checkup.

CONCLUSION:- It is not mandatory to wear low spherical power eyeglasses but if you feel any kind of difficulty in viewing the objects around you then kindly get in touch with your eye doctor and follow his advice.

We have also published a blog post on our official website about this topic.

[adrianmascote]

I have a prescription of -0.50 on both eyes with very little astigmatism. I made the choice to wear lenses because at school I see that I constantly get eye strain for trying to read the white board.

[thatchickencat]

I have astigmatism, -.75 in my right eye, -1.00 in my left eye. I do feel a bit of strain sometimes, especially in my left eye. I’ll be getting the glasses soon but i’ll probably only wear them for driving and reading in class etc, it’s my first prescription btw.

[corine]

Im 0.25 ..when i go longer without my glasses i tend to experience headaches ....sooo yeah i go with my glasses ...

[undefined-zedc]

Does it bother you. Get them. If not don't

[raghavendharsekar]

Brilliant sir, thank you for advising me on this as I had been searching for an answer since months.

[kkevinj]

Bad idea to let the glasses do all the work, what incentive does that give the eye to improve?? It needs a stimulus to worsen or improve

[bnh]

I have +0.50 and I see well why the doctor told me to wear glasses

[paulbasumatary]

I have prescription of -0.50 cyl in both eye I have a little astigmatism in right eye 75° and 125° in left eye

[herbertleonardsmythe]

Very nice very useful, thank you brother.

[jokerfockers]

I don’t understand. I can read the no.10. But doctor still give me 0.25 eyeglass because of astigmatism. Do i really need that?

[DeepakKumar-nlfy]

My right eye 0.25 and left eye 0.50 and doctor prescribed me for glass.should I wear or not.... Telll me

[d.j.]

I'm -0. 75 I checked for an online eye glasses but can found it, is there any one who can help me. How to search it from online

[atifnawaz]

My left eye is -0.50 and for right eye, there's is "P" written. What does that P mean?

[BengaliManfromWB]

i have -1 in left eye and -1.25 in right eye. i have no glasses or lenses for 5-6yrs. i drive car play outdoor sports, video games and I have no problem at all. i have lost all prescription and have lost my glasses.

[juliaclay]

I ordered glasses online, accidentally put in contact RX instead glasses; however, they have the copy of the RX as well. OD should have been -2.25 and is -2.50. Can I adjust to this RX, or should I get them remade? They are making me a little dizzy and disoriented.

[sadatayaz]

Both of my eyes have -0.50 Cylendrical power and also headache, , should i wear glasses??

[anjumakhatun]

my right eye power is minus 0.25 and left eye power is minus 0.50 should i have wear glass please tell me

[Jonaf_]

Sir ihave Myopia. my eye power 1.75 .. Can i improve my eyesight by 1.25 or 1.5 power glass ? Bcz i want to improve my eyesight and i dont want to wear glasses..so pls give me any tips to improve eye sight. At the same time if i wear 1.75 power glass i feel like my vision gets worse than before...

[.sanikaporelxb]

My first number of specs were 0.75 and 1.00 then I could see some things clerly and tho it not see me in previous time doc. Given me the number now 0.50 and 0.75 I make new specs with new number now it is looking some blur, the letters which are far that only..
What should I do i will wore my old specs or new one??

[THEWAY]

I got hit by a season ball in my left eye...a little retina expansion they say...0.25 is the power in my left eye i get blurry vision and little headache .. should i wear glass..i have no power bluecut lens ....should i put power in it